Mining News: Mining group calls on nations to protect World Heritage sites

Shane Lasley

Mining News

A group of the world’s largest mining companies have taken the lead in protecting World Heritage sites and are pushing for global governments to follow suit.

“The conservation of World Heritage sites is a collective responsibility we all share, and ICMM wants to see more movement from governments to protect them,” said Tom Butler, CEO, International Council on Mining and Metals.

ICMM is a coalition of 23 global mining companies that include names familiar to Alaska’s mining sector – Anglo American, Antofagasta Minerals; Barrick Gold; Sumitomo Metal Mining; and Teck Resources.

There are a total of 1,052 World Heritage sites globally, including 48 in the United States and Canada.

One such site – Kluane/Wrangell–St. Elias/Glacier Bay/Tatshenshini-Alsek – covers 24.2 million acres of lands that blanket the mountainous area were Alaska, British Columbia and Yukon Territory meet.

Spectacular glacier and icefield landscapes as well grizzly bear, caribou and Dall sheep habitat are what prompted the four park systems to be declared a World Heritage site in 1994.

Situated between the rich “Golden Triangle” region of northwestern British Columbia and the copper and gold deposits that extend westward into Alaska, this area has been lamented by some geologists as the richest mineral region on earth that will never be explored.

ICCM said that while its members, along with JP Morgan and Shell Oil Co., have made a stand against exploration and mining in areas such as this metals-rich but protected region, only a handful of other companies have made similar commitments.

“Our members voluntarily decided in 2003, not to mine or explore in World Heritage sites. Yet 13 years later, other companies and industries are still operating in these precious sites,” said Butler.

The coalition of miners said this is compounded by the fact that only two of the 192 countries that ratified the World Heritage convention have enshrined this protection in domestic legislation – South Africa and Australia.

“While 23 leading mining companies have voluntarily made a commitment not to mine or explore in World Heritage sites, their voluntary action alone is not enough to safeguard these sites,” ICMM penned in a Sept. 5 statement. “It recommended that countries incorporate their commitments under the World Heritage Convention in their national legislation.”