Mining industry and nature: Major challenges

Dispersion
of dust

Noise

Wood clearing and
deforestation

Emissions

Pollution

Vibration

Mining protests

Mining industry: Environmental impacts and their effects

Explosions and vibrations

Industrial waste and waste rock

Fume emissions, polluted water

Damage to and pollution of pastures

Dust and noise from machinery

Impact of climate change and natural disasters on the safety of tailings

Mining industry and nature: Solutions

Involving companies in wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.

Regular environmental monitoring at industrial sites.

Factoring in opinions of the locals and the proposals of public nature conservation groups.

Fencing off industrial sites and preventing the use of protected areas for mining and exploration.

Funding local efforts and projects aimed at environmental improvement and species conservation.

Nature restoration (reclamation) upon completion of industrial activities.

Mass tourism and nature: Major challenges

Habitat
disturbance

Poaching

Forest
fires

Deforestation

Waste
accumulation

Littering

Collecting
unique
plants

Mass tourism: Environmental impacts and their effects

Risk of forest fires.
Cave damage.

Waste buildup and pollution in areas
of mass tourism.

Poaching, reckless and unchecked hunting.
Uncontrolled gathering of unique plants.

Excessive tourism load on natural parks and picnic areas.

Mass tourism and nature: Solutions

Prevention of tourism in strictly protected areas.

Sound planning for tourism sites, factoring in the potential impacts on rare and vulnerable species of flora and fauna.

Setting limits for the gathering of rare plants by tourists and residents.

Maintaining high environmental standards, using advanced waste collection systems, and promoting renewable energy at tourism sites.

Conducting regular environmental assessments in areas with mass tourism.

Banning the clearance of high-value forests and imposing restrictions on the development of wilderness for tourism.

Transport and energy infrastructure and nature: Major challenges

Deforestation

Barriers for
migratory species

Technical
factors

Ecosystem
fragmentation

Roads: Environmental impacts and their effects

The development of roads is of great social and economic significance. They facilitate access to natural resources for people and companies.

High-traffic roads and roadside fences have negative impacts on migratory species.

Road construction may affect rare and vulnerable flora and fauna species.

The construction and expansion of railways and transport corridors with little regard to the environment leads to fragmentation and shrinking of the habitats of migratory species.

More access
to pastures

More access
to mineral
resources

Strategic environmental assessment

Nature before the development of main roads...

...and after their construction.

Planning transport corridors and main roads through mountains and other sensitive ecosystems requires a strategic environmental assessment.

Energy: Environmental impacts and their effects

Large-scale renewable energy projects may affect the environment and require an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

Pipelines, roads and fences may restrict species’ migration routes.

The development of water-and-energy infrastructure may affect unique and vulnerable species and habitats.

Industrial accidents and leaks may damage ecosystems and vulnerable species.

Transport, energy and nature: Solutions

Passages for migratory species over main roads and other infrastructure.

Passages for migratory species under main roads and other infrastructure.

Warnings for drivers and the reduction of night traffic.

Consideration of the ecological characteristics of species and their habitats when building infrastructure.

Mitigation solutions: varying dimensions, structures and designs.

Nature-based solutions and greening the transport and energy sectors.

Other factors affecting biodiversity

High domestic pressures on natural resources: intensive grazing, unsustainable walnut harvesting and forest management.

Climate change affects sensitive species, ecosystems, and biological processes, such as seasonal migration, vegetation phases, etc.

Invasive alien species constrain and replace native species: creating risks to the urban and aquatic environment.

Fencing along the border disrupts species’ migration.

Safeguards for biodiversity in the development of infrastructure

Low-carbon development,
emission reduction

Ecological
links

Environmental
safeguards and
standards in the
investment projects.

Public consultations

Environmental impact
assessment (EIA)

Waste management

Green spaces

Public participation

Conducting public environmental examinations and sending their results to public authorities.

Getting media coverage,
investigative journalism.

Development of regional networks for broader environmental engagement.

Filing inquiries and complaints to the company and its funding organizations.

Review of projects, plans and official
documents on the websites of competent governmental authorities and companies.

Seeking advice from reputable scientists and independent experts.

Public participation

Collection of signatures for petitions on environmental matters.

Organization of round tables on the environmental impacts of infrastructure projects.

Appeal to the governmental authorities in charge of monitoring or issuing permits for projects.

Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) patrolling and public nature protection teams.

Joint environmental inspections with governmental and local authorities.

Appeal to international organizations for external assessment.

Forestry

Environment

Water

Mining,
transport

Healthcare

International conventions, tools and practices

Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters

Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES)

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance

Convention on Biological Diversity

International Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), national action plans for biodiversity conservation

Environmental
information

Mass media

The public

Justice

Hearings

International conventions, tools and practices

Conventions on toxic substances and waste: Minamata, Stockholm, Basel.

Prevention of industrial accidents, other standards and requirements.

Convention on Environmental Impact
Assessment (Espoo) and its basic principles.

Environmental standards and certificates: ISO 14000, etc.

Environmental and social governance (ESG) of companies, transparency of reporting.

Environmental standards and requirements of the major investors: Belt and Road Initiative, international development banks.

A Global Standard for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Endangered species
1% of the global population

Geographically
restricted species
and communities

Endangered endemic
species

Irreplaceable
ecosystems

Seasonal gatherings and migration

Unique local species
100% of the global population

Main categories of protected natural areas in Central Asia

Strict nature reserves (IUCN I)
Strictly protected nature conservation sites, where no economic activity is allowed and visitation is limited, except for scientific purposes.

National parks (IUCN II)
Natural areas where no economic activity is allowed, but which are open for tourists and residents.

Habitat or species management areas (IUCN IV)
Natural areas of local significance, where human activities are limited. Visits by tourists, local residents and certain types of projects are allowed.

Hunting reserves
Area allocated for wildlife conservation and regulated hunting. Open for tourists, local residents and infrastructure projects.

Water protection zones
Areas where pollution and river bed development, including sand and gravel mining, are not allowed.

Natural monuments
Natural sites with unique properties and high historical and social significance.