The management of extractive sectors (oil, gas and minerals) is a major challenge and opportunity for many developing countries today. The exploitation of non-renewable natural resources has often triggered violent conflicts, degraded the environment, worsened gender and other inequalities, displaced communities. Extractive industries often have had negative impacts on the environment. For example, mining can lead to deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution. Oil and gas extraction can pollute the air and water, and cause climate change. The extractives industry has broader economic, environmental and social impacts to human survival. In contrast, there are plenty of cases where the effective management of a society’s natural resources has unleashed sustainable and equitable human development.
Campaigns on Extractives
Countries are struggling to deal with the tensions between the need for resource-fuelled growth and the need to protect the environment and the livelihoods of communities. These tensions are closely related to a need to establish democratic governance, transparency and accountability, and to protect human rights. BiVA plays a significant role in advocating for sustainable solutions and supporting communities to manage their resources in ways that protect the environment and rights of indigenous and local communities.
