Mining in Australia vs Brazil

Question 1

Australia - Government Policy

Answer 1

• Australia is strict in terms of rehabilitation (such as with the closure of the Argyle mine site in 2020, with rehabilitation expected to take 5 years)
• WA’s forest management plan 2024-2033 includes restrictions on forestry and preserves around 400 000 ha of forests (not inclusive of mining)
• Softwood plantations have received $350M from the government to fund more sustainable timber production

Question 2

Australia - Type of Economy

Answer 2

• 12% of Australia’s exports were from agriculture in 2020-2021
• Agriculture accounts for 55% of land use
• Mining leases account for 0.6% of land use, and contribute $300B to the economy from exports
• Throughout Australia, opportunities for land clearing are extremely limited by government, and most land cover change processes happen in remote areas where minerals are found

Question 3

Brazil - Government Policy

Answer 3

• Built the Trans-Amazonian highway to allow easier access into parts of the amazon
• Gave out free plots of land and paid citizens to farm more remote areas of the Amazon rainforest that were difficult to access
• Between 1978 and 1988, an average of 20 000 square kilometres of forest was cut down each year
• Government policy implemented the forest code, which saw a decline of 83% in the rate of deforestation between 2004 and 2014, by limiting the amount of farmland that could be cleared to 20%. However, this increased to 29% by 2016 due to pressure from lobbyists

Question 4

Type of Economy

Answer 4

• 31% of Brazil is dedicated to Agriculture (soybeans, beef and sugar), with the sector being responsible for 21% of employment
• Brazil has one of the top 10 highest GDPs of all countries, and has grown to this statistic via the exploitation of natural resources, without strict laws to protect land (resulting in significant degradation and impacts)