Socio-environmental impact of mining concessions in Mexico: a spatial analysis

Abstract

Mexico is globally recognized for its rich mineral resources. While mining is often seen as a driver of economic development, it is crucial to consider its short-, medium-, and long-term impacts on biodiversity, as well as on the surrounding rural and Indigenous communities that are frequently overlooked. Information on mining projects in Mexico is fragmented and incomplete within official institutions, complicating access. A significant lack of transparency in mining operations further obscures their effects on biodiversity. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse, using geographic information systems, the distribution of current mining concessions in Mexico and their spatial overlap with environmental and social variables in order to identify areas potentially vulnerable to the impacts of mining activities. Research was conducted on mining concessions in Mexico to assess their spatial relationship with eight environmentally and socially significant variables. The findings indicated that 8.24% of the national territory is under concession. The regions classified as Priority Land Regions and Priority Hydrological Regions exhibited the highest overlap with mining concessions, at 84% and 75%, respectively. Moreover, Protected Natural Areas designated as Biosphere Reserves were identified as the most potentially affected by these activities. Additionally, there was a 10.37% overlap of concessions within communities characterized by a high to very high degree of social vulnerability, including Indigenous communities of 39 ethnic groups. This analysis highlighted specific sites that could be particularly susceptible to the detrimental impacts of mining due to their environmental or social conditions.