The role of voluntary sustainability initiatives in addressing impacts of mining on forests

As demand for transition minerals rises, mining’s footprint on the world’s forests is expanding - without adequate safeguards to protect ecosystems, biodiversity, and communities. This special report explores the role that voluntary sustainability initiatives (VSIs) can play to help reduce and mitigate the sector’s forest and biodiversity impacts.

Through a comparative analysis of 17 mining-related VSIs and in-depth interviews with representatives from 14 initiatives, the report assesses the extent to which forest-related risks are reflected in existing standards and guidance. It identifies common strengths and weaknesses, maps emerging efforts to improve implementation, and explores the challenges that VSIs face in addressing forest impacts — from capacity gaps and regulatory misalignment to limited integration of cumulative and landscape-level risks.

Aiming to inspire standard-setters, downstream companies, donors, and policymakers alike, the report lays out concrete recommendations for how VSIs — and those that influence them — can strengthen their contribution to more forest-friendly, responsible mineral supply chains.