Delivering Nature Positive outcomes through landscape conservation: credible actions and shared responsibility in the mining sector

Laura J Sonter, Marc Freestone, Thomas White, Malcolm Starkey, Stuart Anstee, Joseph W Bull, Helen Crowley, Suzanne Livingstone, Tami Putri, Ray Victurine, Lauren Weatherdon

The mining sector is increasingly expected to align their corporate nature commitments with global biodiversity goals. Emerging Nature Positive frameworks require companies not only to mitigate impacts of direct operations, but also to contribute to biodiversity recovery at the landscape scale, where impacts, dependencies and conservation priorities intersect. Yet expectations for credible landscape action remain under-specified, leaving substantial scope for inconsistent practice and potential greenwash. Here, we clarify the role of landscape conservation in Nature Positive mining commitments and propose a practical framework to guide credible, outcome-oriented investments. We define what constitutes a landscape conservation action in this context and distinguish it from obligations under the mitigation hierarchy, including actions related to offsetting, rehabilitation and mine closure. We outline how landscape boundaries and conservation targets can be defined to align with global biodiversity goals, and how responsibility and delivery roles can be shared among multiple actors. Key challenges include attributing outcomes to individual companies in complex socio-ecological systems, addressing data and monitoring limitations, navigating evolving guidance on corporate claims, and designing durable collective governance and implementation arrangements. We conclude with near-term methodological priorities and a piloting agenda for implementation across contrasting mining landscapes. Clearer sector guidance and broader societal consensus on landscape-level action are essential if mining contributions to Nature Positive goals are to be meaningful and credible.