ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Castle wind farm, Northern Cape, South Africa.
Nature Positive initiatives by South African mining companies By Nelendhre Moodley
With global efforts targeting the halt and reversal of biodiversity loss by 2030 through nature-positive initiatives, the question remains: is the local mining industry taking meaningful action to deliver measurable improvements in ecosystem health? According to CEO of the Federation for a Sustainable Environment, Mariette Liefferink, key mining houses are certainly taking up the gauntlet to advance nature positive initiatives and are aligned with the global shift of focusing on biodiversity restoration, water stewardship, and rehabilitating land use, aiming for a “net positive impact” (NPI) on ecosystems by 2030 or sooner.
D iscussing nature-positive initiatives being implemented by major South African mining houses, including Sibanye- Stillwater, Gold Fields and Harmony Gold, Liefferink acknowledges that these companies have begun to shift the narrative from sustainability rhetoric to tangible action. She flags Sibanye-Stillwater as a notable example, highlighting the JSE- and NYSE-listed miner’s commitment to delivering a net positive impact on land, air, water and nature (including biodiversity). According to Nivashni Govender, VP Environment and Nature at Sibanye-Stillwater, the company recently completed its global Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Locate, Evaluate, Assess and Prepare (LEAP) assessments in 2025, which are being used to inform site-level nature-positive programmes. “This exercise enables us to proactively address environmental challenges, mitigate risks, and adapt to changes, thereby securing long-term sustainability and resilience at Sibanye-Stillwater. The findings from this assessment will guide our development of nature-positive programmes for each operational area. Through the LEAP framework, we can shape and embed our Nature Positive strategy into the foundations of our business,” she says. Beyond this, Sibanye-Stillwater has been actively promoting the Magaliesberg Biosphere nature positive initiative (part of the UNESCO Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve), which contains the Cradle of Humankind within its environs.
The area is an important World Heritage Site, valued not only for the ancient human remains discovered there, but also for its rich biodiversity. “In June 2025, we launched the Magaliesberg Biosphere flagship project, which brings together a wide range of stakeholders from the public, private, and civil society sectors. United by a shared goal to safeguard this ecologically and culturally significant area, our coalition includes the Magaliesberg Biosphere NPC, the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the Angamma Charitable Trust, representatives from the Presidency, academic institutions, and broader civil society partners. This landmark initiative aims to generate positive environmental impacts as well as integrate conservation efforts with economic and cultural progress in the Magaliesberg biosphere region. Our efforts include support for reinforcing biodiversity corridors, indigenous knowledge, sustainable land use, and land stewardship in collaboration with local communities,” states Govender. According to Gold Fields, one of the world’s largest gold mining companies, credible nature-positive action in the mining sector extends beyond simple “net gain” claims. Instead, it involves a combination of impact avoidance and minimisation measures, rehabilitation, wetland restoration, alien vegetation clearing, biodiversity offsets where appropriate, and improved mine-closure planning. This interpretation aligns with the company’s stated sustainability frameworks and the biodiversity standards it references.
26 MODERN MINING www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | JULY 2026
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