Mining-driven deforestation in Africa: new study reveals scale

Industrial mining across Africa is causing widespread deforestation far beyond the mine sites themselves. Between 2001 and 2020, around 187,000 hectares of forest were lost directly to mining. The new study, led by the University of Sheffield with contributions from WU Vienna and international partners, highlights that most deforestation is not caused by the mines themselves but by the infrastructure built around them. WU researcher Victor Maus has spent years developing a global database on mining and deforestation. He explains, “If a mine opens, this triggers new settlements, agriculture, and transportation routes that put additional pressure on surrounding forests. To fully understand the environmental impact of mining, we need to look beyond the mine sites themselves and consider the much larger footprint created by the associated activities.” The analysis covers over 16,000 mines, including both large-scale operations owned by multinational corporations and smaller artisanal sites run by local communities.

Demand for minerals is rising rapidly

The expansion of mining across Africa is closely linked to rising global demand for mineral resources. Since 1970, the extraction of metal ores on the continent has increased fourfold. As technologies central to the green energy transition – such as electric vehicles and renewable energy systems – continue to expand, demand for key minerals like copper and cobalt is expected to grow dramatically, potentially increasing up to 40-fold by 2040. At the same time, the study highlights that global demand for these materials is contributing significantly to rising deforestation in Africa. As Maus points out, “This analysis covers Africa, but based on the data we’ve collected, it’s likely that similar impacts are replicated elsewhere.”