Special Seminar on Ecology, Mining & Sustainable Development

18 de novembro de 2015 a 19 de novembro de 2015

Caves are important for their geological history and the inhabiting fauna. The mining sector contributes to 5% of the Brazilian National Gross Income and employs over 1,170,000 people. Although highly desirable, at times these objectives are in conflict. The exploration of mineral reserves in Brazil is currently restricted by the existence of speleological formations generating serious impacts on the mining sector with economic and social implications. An equitable approach that enables the preservation of caves and its fauna and support a vigorous mining activity must be achieved. Remarkably, the mining sector has contributed to a revitalization of speleology and is responsible to the vast majority of new caves being described. Caves are characterized by geological and biospeleological criteria. Any void with over 5 meters of extension is included in the studies, notwithstanding of lithology. Those considered as of Maximum Relevance, must be protected. Caves of High Relevance may be removed if two other caves of High Relevance are permanently protected. Caves of Medium Relevance may also generate compensatory measures. Finally a buffer zone needs to be implemented around preserved caves. Most of the studies regard caves as of Maximum of High Relevance due to the large number of criteria used, given that the presence of one criterion is sufficient to declare a cave highly relevant. As an example in 2008 over 1,000 caves were explored and by 2013 only 30 were set for removal. In addition, identifying caves for compensation has proven extremely difficult.

The necessary studies to determine the level of relevance of caves are long (1-1.5 years), costly and especially limited in several aspects. One of the main limitations derives from the very high number of caves (over 7,000 caves are listed in the national database). The small number of specialist taxonomists is another limitation for the analysis of tens of thousands of specimens collected using classical taxonomy, especially in biological diversity rich regions. Lastly, the legislation is at times subjective and open to interpretation. This seminar aims to bring together industry partners, government agents and academics, to discuss possible solutions to these limitations and help design sustainable mining practices.

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