A coal mining project in Zimbabwe’s Hwange Park threatens the endangered black rhino population, prompting ZimParks to call for its cancellation. The project risks increasing extinction rates and undermining critical wildlife habitats. Past occurrences of mining proposals have led to bans in nature reserves, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts in light of declining black rhino numbers due to poaching.
A proposed coal mining project in Hwange Park, Zimbabwe, poses a severe threat to the endangered black rhino population, according to a statement from the Zimbabwe National Parks Authority (ZimParks). The project threatens the Sinamatella Black Rhino Intensive Protection Zone, prompting ZimParks to request the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to cancel the proposal and prevent future applications. ZimParks emphasizes its goal of restoring 30 percent of degraded ecosystems by 2030, and warns that mining would elevate the extinction risk for black rhinos and their recovery prospects.
The black rhinos inhabit a critical area listed under international conventions for endangered species and have been experiencing population growth in recent years. A Chinese company, Sunny Yi Feng, seeks to prospect for coal in an area of over 16,000 hectares, located less than eight kilometers from the protected rhino zone. ZimParks strongly asserts that mining in this crucial habitat would degrade ecological conditions essential for wildlife survival and reproduction.
As of September last year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature reported that the global black rhino population remains critically low at slightly more than 6,400 individuals, showing a one percent decline from the previous year due to poaching. Hwange National Park, which also shelters 65,000 elephants, risks further complications as mining could disrupt groundwater flow, threatening essential water supplies for local wildlife. A previous mining proposal by another Chinese entity, Tongmao Coal Company, led Zimbabwean authorities to announce in 2020 a ban on such activities in nature reserves.
The proposed coal mining project in Hwange Park represents a significant threat to the endangered black rhino population, reinforcing the need for stringent conservation measures. The ZimParks authority has called for the cancellation of the mining project due to its potential impact on biodiversity and the ecosystem health of the area, further underlining the importance of protecting endangered species and their habitats from industrial activities. Protecting these habitats is essential for the future survival and recovery of black rhinos and the stability of the ecosystem.
Original Source: punchng.com
