2026 Reports

Nature-based Solutions for a Sustainable Critical Minerals Value Chain

Fornabaio, Lara; Saloum, Sara; Toledano, Perrine; Hund, Kirsten

The global demand for minerals is accelerating, placing the mining sector at the center of today’s most pressing sustainability challenges. Critical minerals production is essential for a net-zero future yet mining’s land footprint overlaps with sensitive ecosystems: of the sector’s 101,583 square kilometers of mining concessions, 7% are in biodiversity hotspots, 8% are in protected areas, and 16% are in “wilderness” areas of high ecological integrity (Maus et al., 2022; Sonder et al., 2020).

The value chains of mining operations “both depend on and impact nature,” creating a responsibility for mining actors to manage and mitigate the impacts of operations on the landscape (ICMM, 2024). This responsibility includes addressing nature loss, supporting the well-being of communities, and contributing to the resilience of ecosystems. Nature-based solutions (NbS), which are based on the idea that healthy ecosystems deliver valuable services to society, oer one method of working towards these goals.

To explore how NbS might be applied to a mining context, the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) and Vale Base Metals conducted a joint research collaboration combining case study analysis and expert engagement. The project reviewed NbS case studies globally to identify eective examples and recurring challenges, with a focus on the design, implementation, and governance conditions that enable, or undermine, the success of NbS initiatives.

In parallel, CCSI and Vale Base Metals convened three events at Climate Week NYC and COP30 in Belém to share the research with experts and practitioners and gather feedback. These events were intended to facilitate cross-sector dialogue about the role and opportunities for NbS in mining, particularly with regard to their successful implementation, the implications of their adoption, and the practical barriers to scaling them as sector-wide practice. The events brought together experts from industry, civil society, finance, innovation, and policy to examine how NbS are being applied today and where key leverage points for action lie.

This short report distills the insights of the case study research and events series. It seeks to synthesize the recurring themes of these conversations and inform future research and dialogue about the opportunities for NbS in the mining sector.