Mining in Palawan

Palawan: a natural treasure in peril as the world scrambles for critical minerals  

The lush, green island of Palawan is home to one of the Philippines’ most biodiverse old-growth forests, harbouring unique species like the IUCN Red-listed Palawan pangolin. Indigenous communities, farmers and fishers too depend on the islands’ natural wealth. But as global demand for nickel surges to fuel the ‘clean’ energy transition, human rights and vital ecosystems are increasingly under pressure from mining activities. Grizelda Mayo Anda from our Philippine partner ELAC sheds her light on mining of energy transition minerals transition in Palawan: ‘I surely think the energy transition must be pursued. But the word ‘just’ is very, very important.’ 

Header photo: Strip mining in Palawan © IUCN NL

Nickel rush 

Over the last decades, the inhabitants of the island Palawan have been facing the growing threat of mining for valuable metals and minerals, particularly nickel. The Philippines is the world’s second largest nickel producer, a key player in the global supply of this significant mineral for the transition to clean energy. Nickel is used in batteries for electric vehicles and other green technologies, and with demand set to surge in the coming years, the pressure on the country’s mining deposits is mounting.  

In response, the Philippine government is positioning itself to capitalise on this growing demand, promoting mining as a pathway to economic growth for the country. To attract foreign investors and facilitate the mining companies in their operations, the moratorium on new mining operations which was installed in 2017 has been lifted and tax structures have been adapted in favour of the companies. While nickel is an important element for the energy transition, its mining needs to be executed in a just and responsible manner.  

‘It is not just about removing trees, [with strip mining] you remove the wildlife and the top soil that supports many life forms such as bacteria, fungi and algae.’

  • Grizelda Mayo Anda, ELAC

Palawan: last ecological frontier 

Palawan is often referred to as the last ecological frontier of the Philippines. Around half of the island’s original tropical forest cover has withstood the pressures of time. Palawan thereby holds almost half of the countries’ old growth forest, as well as 30 percent of the remaining mangroves and 40 percent of the coral reefs.  

The nature of the island is internationally recognised by the designation of multiple Key Biodiversity Areas and a UNESCO Man and Biosphere reserve. ‘Palawan is very rich in endemism, in fact we are the richest in terms of endemism in the country. There are flora and fauna found only in Palawan: the pangolin, the cockatoo, the pitcher plant, the bearcat, the pencil-tailed tree mouse. You name it, we probably have it,’ Mayo Anda from the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) says. 

Mayo Anda has dedicated her life to protecting biodiversity and environmental human rights in the Philippines, she explains: ‘All of this combined actually nourishes life. Biodiversity enables us to survive. It makes sure that we have water to irrigate our farmlands, that we have food to feed our families, and non-timber forest products to provide livelihood to our local communities.’ 

In Palawan, nickel is sourced through the method of strip mining. Hereby, the forest is cut down and the layers of topsoil are removed to access the nickel ore beneath. This has devastating consequences for the landscape. ‘It is not just about removing trees, you remove the wildlife and the top soil that supports many life forms such as bacteria, fungi and algae,’ Mayo Anda emphasises.    

The environmental lawyer explains that with this method of mining it is extremely difficult to restore the environment after the extraction is completed, and it is nearly impossible to get the original ecosystem and biodiversity back. While rehabilitation is required by law in the Philippines, it is often poorly or not done. Furthermore, prior required environmental and biodiversity assessments are often lacking in the permit’s applications. ‘There is really a big deficiency in determining the biodiversity impact of mining in this beautiful province,’ she states.  

Palawan Philippines Photo IUCN NL
Rich biodiversity in Palawan, the Philippines © IUCN NL

Environmental pollution affects livelihoods 

Mining on the island has severely impacted the livelihoods of farmers, fishers and Indigenous communities through environmental pollution. Toxic runoff and debris from mining contaminate rivers and water sources vital for the farmer communities downstream, who depend on these water sources for the irrigation of their rice fields. Brooke’s Point once flourished as a first-class municipality due to its agriculture and fisheries, supplying rice to three municipalities. Today, however, the impacts of nickel mining have destroyed large shares of agricultural lands, depriving farmers of their livelihoods.  

In the municipality of Narra, for example, the municipal agriculture office has identified over 100 hectares of rice fields that have been become unproductive due to the inundation of nickel laterite. The numbers are likely to be higher as the effects of another large-scale mining project have not yet been documented. Government agencies have not responded to the petitions of communities that call for investigation of the losses and for the provision of alternative livelihoods.  

Furthermore, the pollution disrupts traditional coastal fishing grounds. ELAC has documented that in the past two years the lobster fry fishers in Brooke’s Point had to abandon their fishing grounds due to pollution. Mayo Anda shares the example of one woman, who caught lobsters for a living. ‘She had to move out of Brooke’s Point and she’s now working as a security guard in a shopping mall here because the lobster fry area has been destroyed. It has been polluted by the wharf that the mining company built’ Mayo explains. Wharfs are used to facilitate the shipping of the nickel ore. ‘They reclaimed the area and polluted the coral reefs and the lobster areas. Plus, adjacent to that is a marine sanctuary, which is supposed to be a  protected zone .’ 

Reduced access to ancestral lands  

The mining threat affects the island’s Indigenous peoples in particular. Mining operations infringe on their ancestral lands and disrupt their traditional livelihoods, which are deeply tied to the forest. The mining companies have prevented Indigenous peoples from entering and using their forests and non-timber forest products. They hire security guards to keep them from the mining area.   

But these communities have relied on the land for resources such as honey, rattan and medicinal plants for many generations. The resin from the Almaciga tree, which can be used as varnish or paint, is sold on markets and thereby an important source of income. Beyond material loss, these people risk losing their deep cultural and spiritual connection to the land – an integral part of their identity.   

‘I would emphasise to all the European communities: you should realise that this so-called green energy transition has significant impact on nature and (Indigenous) peoples and other communities in other countries, and you should make sure that a participatory, transparent and accountable process is pursued.’

  • Grizelda Mayo Anda, ELAC

Community cohesion under pressure

The arrival of mining companies has also caused disagreements within the communities, often leading to unresolved conflicts and a decreasing community cohesion. ‘The division is so bad that even family and friends have unresolved conflicts, causing immense stress,’ says Mayo Anda. The environmental human rights activist gives the example of a woman who opposed the construction of a wharf in her fishing waters, but was pressured by her siblings to accept money from the company. ‘We have not even yet determined the mental anxiety and stress that such divide in a community causes’ the lawyer says.  

While these social challenges also affect fishers and farmers, the issue is especially pronounced in Indigenous communities. Mayo Anda explains that the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) allows Indigenous groups to assert their rights. However, Indigenous peoples are often among the most marginalised and impoverished communities, and local leaders face the allure of development promises made by mining companies. In the difficult years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the tensions only further increased. These dynamics weaken traditional governance and threaten Indigenous rights, as immediate financial gains overshadow long-term cultural and environmental concerns. 

Grizelda Mayo Anda in 2017 © ELAC
An protest against open-pit mining in the Philippines

Ensuring justice in the energy transition 

Nickel plays a significant role in the energy transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. However, this shift must not come at the expense of justice. ‘The word “justice” is key here. When we talk about “a just energy transition”; what do we really mean?’ says Mayo Anda. ‘The rights of the people affected and displaced by this transition must be recognised and protected.’

She emphasises that the importance of forests, which are vital for both climate adaptation and mitigation as well as for biodiversity conservation, is often overlooked in the energy transition. ‘Forests are essential for combating climate change, yet their value isn’t factored into the energy transition discussions.’  Globally, more than half of the minerals and metals needed for the energy transition are located on or near the lands of Indigenous and peasant peoples, two groups who are highly connected to the land and nature[1]Owen, J. R., Kemp, D., Lechner, A. M., Harris, J., Zhang, R., & Lèbre, É. (2023). Energy transition minerals and their intersection with land-connected peoples. Nature Sustainability, 6(2), … Continue reading. Their right to consultation and free prior informed consent are embedded in United Nations declarations.  

Mayo Anda speaks on behalf of the communities in Palawan suffering from the impacts of nickel mining, including Indigenous peoples, farmers, fishers, women and elderly, as well as civil society groups forming part of the Save Palawan Movement, when stating: ‘I would emphasise to all the European communities: you should realise that this so-called green energy transition has significant impact on nature and (Indigenous) peoples and other communities in other countries, and you should make sure that a participatory, transparent and accountable process is pursued. Moreover, governments and consumers should pursue less energy use and push for circular approaches, thereby reducing reliance on primary extraction of raw materials.’ 

‘Before intensifying nickel mining in such a beautiful country, all environmental impact studies must be conducted, and communities must be properly consulted.’ 

  • Grizelda Mayo Anda, ELAC

‘We must ensure that the mining countries, especially mega-diverse nations including the Philippines, are not further devastated by nickel mining,’ Mayo Anda stresses. ‘With the seventeen mega-diversity countries including the Philippines holding 70 percent of the world’s flora and fauna, their ecological value must be preserved.’ The activist calls for the application of the precautionary principle. ‘Before intensifying nickel mining in such a beautiful country, all environmental impact studies must be conducted, and communities must be properly consulted. I surely think that the energy transition must be pursued. But the word “just” is very, very important.’ 

Solidarity with Philippine organisations 

IUCN NL has been standing in solidarity with civil society organisations in their important work to strive for environmental justice in Palawan. Together with Philippine CSO partners such as ELAC, the Institute for the Development of Educational and Ecological Alternatives (IDEAS), and the Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP), IUCN NL has been working on empowering Indigenous communities to safeguard their ancestral lands, protect biodiversity and secure sustainable livelihoods. Activities include, amongst others:

  • increasing legal awareness;
  • pushing for the enforcement of laws and policies that serve to protect biodiversity and the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC’s);
  • improving organic farming practices; and
  • developing sustainable harvesting and marketing of high-value non-timber forest products, like the resin from the Almaciga tree.  

Furthermore, our ongoing support under the Green Livelihoods Alliance and Bottom Line! programme continues to provide emergency funds to Indigenous and local communities and environmental human rights defenders, in their efforts against the expansion of destructive mining operations. In collaboration with the VBDO (Dutch Investors for Climate and Development), we have been exerting pressure on Dutch investors tied to the Sumitomo/Rio Tuba Nickel Mine, which plans to expand operations in primary rainforest areas in Mt. Bulanjao, a High Conservation Value Area that should be acknowledged as a Key Biodiversity Area. 

Index

Index
1 Owen, J. R., Kemp, D., Lechner, A. M., Harris, J., Zhang, R., & Lèbre, É. (2023). Energy transition minerals and their intersection with land-connected peoples. Nature Sustainability, 6(2), 203-211.