Today, at least 90 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in India with unique biodiversity and wildlife are threatened with mining (Vagholikar and Moghe 2003). Stone mining in the vicinity of Sariska Tiger Reserve, iron ore mining in Kudremukh National Park, bauxite mining in Buxa Tiger Reserve, copper mining in areas adjacent to Kanha Tiger Reserve and soapstone mining in Jamva Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary are among the few illustrative examples of mining projects that have posed major threats to wilderness values of the Protected Areas in the country. The implications of promoting mining activities in wilderness areas have been well documented (Singh and Chowdhury, 1999; Krishnaswamy et al., 2002; WII, 2005); and these provide enough empirical evidence of range of impacts on biodiversity resources and the process that sustain these resources.

Mining operations and the process of constructing new mining infrastructure often resulting in large scale alterations in the environmental attributes at landscape and ecosystem levels. The clearing of vegetation and associated loss of habitats is one of the most significant impacts of mining on biodiversity. Loss of vegetation cover occurs not only in the mined out area but also in areas supporting associated activities such as dumping of overburden, deposition of tailings, development of transport infrastructure and service corridors (railway lines, roads, pipelines, conveyers) for processed ore and other onsite surface facilities (offices, workshops, vehicle parks, storage depots and warehouses). The excavation of the substrate materials and creation of the mine voids also alter the soil profile, hydrology, topography, and nutrient status of the substrate. These secondary factors have the potential to bring about changes in habitat quality and local biodiversity. At the landscape level, environmental impacts occur generally in the form of alteration of land form features and fragmentation of biological habitats that may cause isolation of populations of floral and faunal species (Brown and Dunne 1988, Banerjee 2004). Fragmentation of habitat into smaller patches may limit species mobility due to impaired connectivity between supportive habitats and may consequently lead to limited use of available habitats. Altered patterns of stream flows and drainage patterns are also landscape level impacts resulting from mining activities (UNEP 1994; Treweek 1999; IIED and WBCSD 2002).