Global land cover maps do not reveal mining pressures to biodiversity.

ABSTRACT: Global land cover maps are key inputs into the biodiversity metrics used by the private sector to align their performance with conservation goals and targets. These maps utilize classification systems depicting combinations of 'natural' (vegetation, water bodies) and 'anthropogenic' (agriculture and built-up land) cover types, but often miss intensive pressures on biodiversity, such as mining. Here, we reveal that more than half (56-77%) the global land area disturbed by mining is classified by land cover maps as 'natural', suggesting metrics based on these maps likely overestimate the current state of biodiversity and underestimate opportunities to improve it. The proportion of mining land classified as natural varies by continent (e.g. 46% in Europe; 69% in Australia), further biasing in

SUBMITTER: Sonter LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12214654 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature