WWF-SIGHT supported a new academic study into the extent of extractive operations within Intact Forest Landscapes.

Intact Forest Landscapes (IFL) are large blocks of undamaged forest, they are important both in supporting and protecting biodiversity and fighting climate change. The study found that some 376,449 square miles (975,000 square kilometers) of IFL are designated as extractives concessions. Of course, not all these concessions will be developed, however, it shows the extent of extractive pressure on these areas. In total 11% of tropical IFL were identified by the SIGHT team as activity licensed for mining, while 8% of tropical IFL was overlapped by oil and gas concessions.

The study is published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change.

Please find an interactive map showing overlaps of extractives with IFL landscape here.

Media:

Science Daily – Nearly 20 percent of intact forest landscapes overlap with extractive industries

MongaBay – Nearly 1 million km2 of intact forests menaced by extractives, study finds