Critical minerals are at the center of emerging debates about the transition to renewable energy. Just as fossil fuels have been the backbone of global energy needs for more than a century, several dozen minerals will make possible the green technologies of tomorrow’s energy systems. Minerals, such as lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel, graphite, aluminum, rare earths, silver, and zinc are expected to experience dramatic increases in demand in the coming decades.
The growing demand for these minerals prompts difficult questions about who might be affected by their extraction. There is a long history of conflict between mining and Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. In June 2023, a study by an international team of researchers found that around 25 percent of environmental conflicts involving Indigenous Peoples were caused by mining. Researchers found that Indigenous communities were negatively impacted by land dispossession, biodiversity loss, water pollution, soil degradation, and lost livelihoods. According to a recent global mapping of 5,097 critical mineral projects, 69 percent of existing or planned projects are located on or near IPLCs’ lands.1 Accelerating demand for critical minerals is increasing pressure for new or expanded mining activities in IPLCs’ lands and territories and is already raising concerns about the increased potential for conflict.
In Vietnam and worldwide, widespread forest degradation from illicit timber harvesting, forest land conversion and poor forest management practices, is leading to increased carbon emissions, which threatens the environment, communities, and livelihoods. Despite national increases in overall tree coverage, Vietnam’s natural forests are reducing in area and worsening in quality.
This issue brief discusses
In Vietnam and worldwide, widespread forest degradation from climate change and other causes, like poor plantation management, is leading to increased carbon emissions, which threatens the environment, communities, and livelihoods. Despite national increases in overall tree coverage, Vietnam’s natural forests are reducing in area and worsening in quality.
In Vietnam and worldwide, widespread forest degradation from illicit timber harvesting, forest land conversion and poor forest management practices, is leading to increased carbon emissions, which threatens the environment, communities, and livelihoods. Despite national increases in overall tree coverage, Vietnam’s natural forests are reducing in area and worsening in quality.
In Vietnam and worldwide, widespread forest degradation from illicit timber harvesting, forest land conversion and poor forest management practices, is leading to increased carbon emissions, which threatens the environment, communities, and livelihoods. Despite national increases in overall tree coverage, Vietnam’s natural forests are reducing in area and worsening in quality. From 2020-2025, the USAID Sustainable Forest Management Project (the Project) is linking communities, local authorities, the national government, and the private sector to jointly address the drivers of forest conversion and degradation in targeted areas. The Project aims to avoid carbon emissions from natural forest conversion and degradation; increase carbon sequestration through better management of plantation forests; and improve the quality, diversity, and productivity of natural production forests– all to protect Vietnam’s threatened forest resources.
In Vietnam and worldwide, widespread forest degradation from illicit timber harvesting, forest land conversion and poor forest management practices, is leading to increased carbon emissions, which threatens the environment, communities, and livelihoods. Despite national increases in overall tree coverage, Vietnam’s natural forests are reducing in area and worsening in quality. From 2020-2025, the USAID Sustainable Forest Management Project (the Project) is linking communities, local authorities, the national government, and the private sector to jointly address the drivers of forest conversion and degradation in targeted areas. The Project aims to avoid carbon emissions from natural forest conversion and forest degradation; increase carbon sequestration through better management of plantation forests; and improve the quality, diversity, and productivity of natural production forests– all to protect Vietnam’s threatened forest resources.
In Vietnam and worldwide, widespread forest degradation from illicit timber harvesting, forest land conversion and poor forest management practices, is leading to increased carbon emissions, which threatens the environment, communities, and livelihoods. Despite national increases in overall tree coverage, Vietnam’s natural forests are reducing in area and worsening in quality. From 2020-2025, the USAID Sustainable Forest Management Project (the Project) is linking communities, local authorities, the national government, and the private sector to jointly address the drivers of forest conversion and degradation in targeted areas. The Project aims to avoid carbon emissions from natural forest conversion and degradation; increase carbon sequestration through better management of plantation forests; and improve the quality, diversity, and productivity of natural production forests– all to protect Vietnam’s threatened forest resources.
This learning brief highlights findings from a systems mapping research study to investigate what drives smallholder farmers to convert natural lands to agriculture production spaces in three high biodiversity regions: Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Wildlife or game ranching is a billion-dollar industry in southern Africa.1 Despite Zambia’s seemingly high potential for community-focused private sector development in the industry, it has not flourished to date. Notwithstanding this, private agricultural ranches continue to add game ranching to their portfolios, and several community game ranching initiatives exist. Because participation of civil society (local communities) is understood to be essential for integrating social, economic, environmental, and political imperatives when determining appropriate climate resilient land use in Zambia, this brief examines how community game ranches in particular are operating within a challenging economic and policy environment and assesses their sustainability potential.