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SEAPRISE
Extractive
industries engagements with the Conservation Community
Background
of Mining sector dialogue with IUCN
IUCN announced a proposed partnership (later redefined as
a dialogue) with the International Council on Mining and Minerals
(ICMM) during the World
Summit on Sustainable Development (click
here to read the press release). IUCN and ICMM agreed
to use the recommendations of the report of the Mining, Minerals
and Sustainable Development Project as a basis for moving
forward (MMSD
website). This $9.7 million project was initiated by 9
leading mining companies who invited the World Business Council
for Sustainable Development (WBCSD
website) to commission the project. The International
Institute for Environment and Development, IIED was selected
as the implementing agency.
The announcement of the IUCN-ICMM partnership generated considerable
dismay, controversy and debate, including among IUCNs own
membership (click
here to read an open letter from the International Indian
Treaty Council). A wide range of civil society organisations
united in their declaration of a "Greenwash" campaign
(click
here to see the letter and signatories).
As a Commission of IUCN, and concerned with the effective
and fair engagement of all stakeholders in managing natural
resources, CEESP members felt it was important to contribute
to the resolution of the controversy.
CEESP Steering Committee member, Professor Alejandro Nadal
of the El Colegio de Mexico, produced a commentary on the
economic component of the MMSD (click
here to read it). The former Director of the MMSD Project,
Luke Danielson, responded to Prof. Nadal's commentary with
this open
letter.
The CEESP SC sent a letter
to the President of IUCN and to IUCN Council preceding the
Council meeting in December 2002 to give some constructive
feedback to IUCN on the process. The final Council decision
can be read here.
ICMM
has prepared draft good practice guidance (GPG) for mining
and biodiversity through its dialogue with IUCN - the World
Conservation Union. The document is intended for use by technical
and environmental managers at mines as guidance on how to
improve their performance in biodiversity conservation and
management by setting out what is currently understood to
constitute good practice.
To download the document, go to:
http://www.icmm.com/news/632gpgbio_draft.pdf.
Alternatively, the document may be obtained from the IUCN
website at http://www.iucn.org/themes/business/mining/MiningGPGReview.htm
SEAPRISE
drafted a quick response on the document. One key point we
would make is that the Guidelines should not be another PR
document for the Mining Companies. It should be strictly professional
and it needs to be a living document which is up dated as
more knowledge on best practise is received.
In
our response we have concentrated on those sections which
we received specific comments by members of CEESP or SEAPRISE.
This does not mean that we are in full agreement with other
sections it simply means that it is the best we could do in
the time available to comment.
Some members of SEAPRISE have strong feelings about the mining
industry and a feeling that what is needed is action by the
Mining Companies, not more and more documents. We claim that
existing laws and treaties are not being adequately respected.
However some members of SEAPRISE are willing to wait and see
if there will be a major change in the way in which Mining
companies operate. But they want ACTION Now!!! …(link
to response document)
World
Parks Congress Recommendation on Protected Areas, Mining and
Energy
Other
World Parks Congress outputs and recommendations
Africa
Mining Network
Have your
say on the ICMM's draft
Sustainable Development Principles
The International
Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) is developing Sustainable
Development Principles (Framework) for its member companies,
who between them, own nearly half of the world's mining operations.
The sustainable development principles can therefore be vital
to how the mining industry relates to environment in future.
The draft of these principles are already on the ICMM
website and open for public comments. CEESP members are
welcome to send their comments to Maryam Rahmanian (maryam@cenesta.org)
by April 22, 2003.
CEESP
related documents
CEESP
Steering Committee statement to IUCN Council
Comments
on the economic analysis of the report "Breaking New
Ground: Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development"
- Prof. Alejandro Nadal, El Colegio de Mexico and CEESP
Steering Committee member
Open
letter to Prof. Nadal from Luke Danielson, former Director
of the MMSD Project
Letter
to Mr. Danielson from Prof. Nadal
A
review of Woodside’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement
of
the Chinguetti Offshore Oil Development Project in Mauritania
-- A background paper to serve as an independent guide for
stakeholders who wish to submit comments on Woodside’s
draft environmental impact statement, January
2004, by
Sandra Kloff & Tom van Spanje
Study supported by the Mineral Policy Institute Australia
Response
from Woodside on the above background paper, A review
of Woodside’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement of
the Chinguetti Offshore Oil Development Project in Mauritania
WWF
response to the Woodside EIA for the Chinguetti Development
Project
Background of
oil and gas sector dialogue with IUCN
Conservation
International, IUCN, Fauna & Flora International, The
Nature Conservancy and the Smithsonian Institute together
with 4 oil companies (BP, ChevronTexaco, Shell and Statoil),
have confirmed their "Energy and Biodiversity Initiative
(EBI)", in order to produce guidelines, instruments and
models with the objective of integrating biodiversity into
oil and gas extraction activities.
Among
the products of this initiative is the "Integrating Biodiversity
and Oil and Gas Development" report. The document establishes
the need to find a balance between meeting future energy needs
and biodiversity conservation.
More information
www.theebi.org
WWF opted
not to join this partnership because climate change and indigenous
peoples rights were not addressed. Various advocacy organisations
have sent an open letter to IUCN to comment on the dialogue
http://www.minesandcommunities.org/Charter/iucn3.htm
How to
get involved
Whether
you are a member of IUCN or not, you can get involved in the
IUCN-ICMM dialogue through CEESP. We are particulary interested
in hearing from "those communities most impacted by mining,
in particular indigenous peoples".
Avenues
for involvement have been indicated through the recent IUCN
Council decision which states that:
3. The
dialogue [between IUCN and ICMM] should continue on the basis
of good faith negotiations by all parties, paying due regard
to the sensitivity of the issue, and in particular the need
to:
(a) Comply with existing General Assembly and World
Congress resolutions and recommendations and Council
decisions;
(b) Take full account of the implications of the dialogue
for all IUCN members and those communities most impacted by
mining, in particular indigenous peoples; and
(c) Develop and implement an effective and transparent means
of communicating the agendas, progress and results of the
dialogue, and engaging with IUCN members and Council.
Please
contact us with your comments, concerns and ideas at ceesp@iucn.org.
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