Extractives

As the extractives sector represents resource-intensive industries with large environmental footprints, IUCN believes there is a conservation need to work with the sector.  

IUCN also recognises that extractives industries -- such as oil and gas, mining and building materials -- are significant contributors to the global economy, and this makes them an influential force in shaping how global conservation and development goals are attained.  

To help ensure IUCN's work is undertaken in an institutionally coherent and consistent manner, it has developed an operational framework that outlines its approach with the extractives sector. 

Over the past few decades, IUCN’s Business and Biodiversity Programme has worked on a number of key projects that have helped advance biodiversity conservation in the sector.  Currently, it has collaborative agreements with Black Mountain Mining in South Africa, Newmont in the US, and QMM in Madagascar.  It also has a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Council of Mining and Metals. 

Previous engagements have focused on the following areas:

• Integrating biodiversity risk management measures into the business operations of building material companies

• Establishing a No Net Loss/Net Positive Impact Protocol (Biodiversity Net Gain) 

• Supporting stakeholder participation in the revision and implementation of oil & gas company remediation guidelines in the Niger Delta 

• Developing the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative's sustainability standard

• Promoting a more effective implementation of the World Heritage Convention.