grasslands.org.za Coal Mining

Activities in the coal mining sector will be undertaken in 2 streams:

Biodiversity offset scheme is developed. The Programme will work with DWAF, the Working for Wetlands Programme, the Water Research Commission and provincial authorities to establish a wetland mitigation banking scheme. The Working for Wetlands Programme has started a pilot wetland offsite mitigation with coal mining. This will be supported by funding capacity building that will play a catalytic role in demonstrating the application of the concept through strengthening the institutional framework; learning and disseminating lessons; and then making the appropriate policy interventions. The Programme will need to ensure that due process is followed and that mitigation does not override the need to accurately assess impacts while ensuring that they do not constitute a fatal flaw, i.e. unacceptable loss of biodiversity. Key issues that will be addressed include:
Coal mine expansion planned using biodiversity information. The Programme will work with mining companies, the DME and provincial authorities responsible for EIA decision making and conservation to identify areas marked for coal mine expansion that overlap with biodiversity priority areas and develop mitigation measures, including offsite mitigation. A key tool will be the Mpumalanga Biodiversity Conservation Plan (MBCP).