Mining Expands in Mongolia and Appalachia, Threatening Agriculture and Water Resources

Mountaintop removal mining in the Appalachian United States can strip up to 400 feet of terrain, flood valleys with overburden, and permanently alter watersheds, soil stability and biodiversity, raising concerns for local farms and forestry.

In Mongolia, mining now consumes over 60 % of industrial water and affects nearly 30 % of the country’s land, encroaching on grazing corridors and reducing water availability for pastoral communities, thereby jeopardising livestock productivity and rural livelihoods.

Both regions underscore the need for stronger land‑use planning, water‑use management and reclamation measures to balance mineral extraction with agricultural sustainability.