Diamond Mining Banned to Protect Elephants
September 15, 20
(IDEX Online) - The Zimbabwe government has banned mining for diamonds and other minerals in its national parks.
It was responding to calls from environmental and wildlife groups, who raised concerns about threats to biodiversity, tourism and the elephant population.
Mining for diamonds, gold and coal is widespread in national parks across southern Africa, Shamiso Mtisi, of the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association, told The Associated Press.
The association initiated legal proceedings over exploratory works by a Chinese coal miner in the vast Hwange Game Reserve (pictured), in the west of the country, which is home to one of Africa's largest populations of elephants.
The government responded by outlawing all mining activity in all national parks.