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Critical minerals, such as lithium and cobalt, are an essential part of modern life. They are in your phone, car, and computer, and are needed to build wind turbines, solar panels, and airplanes. The Trump administration is pushing to dramatically expand domestic mining of these minerals, citing the threat of relying on foreign supply chains. However, such an expansion could dramatically harm our public lands, including key wildlife habitat.
According to a new report by Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, and the National Wildlife Federation, nearly half of our nation's critical mineral deposits are in trout and salmon habitat, and one in ten deposits lies beneath protected public lands.
The report issued a conservation perspective on how to produce these critical minerals while conserving big game habitat and Blue Ribbon trout streams. From recycling and reprocessing mine waste piles to dedicating revenue from mining for habitat conservation, there are ways we can reduce the impact of mining for critical minerals.
"We want to make sure that those minerals, as they're extracted, are done so in a responsible way," said John Gale of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. "And we hope that we've learned from the past. That should teach us something about how we move forward to our mining future here."
Join the Road to 30 today in Montana!
Today at Noon MT, the Center for Western Priorities and Montana Wildlife Federation will host the next stop on our "Road to 30" virtual tour, highlighting the pressing need to protect 30% of America by 2030. Join us to hear about key issues in Montana, from grizzly bear conservation to wildlife migration corridors.
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