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interaction
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vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;
with
the environment especially when
it has become
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p) Critical habitats - place or environment where species or subspecies
4
naturally occur or has naturally established its population that are crucial
5
to the survival of a species and essential for its conservation;
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q) Cultural sites - those that bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony
7
to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has
8
disappeared or, directly or tangibly associated with events or living
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traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of
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outstanding universal significance;
r) Customary laws -
body of written and/or unwritten rules, usages,
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customs and practices traditionally recognized, accepted and observed
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by respective ICCs/IPs and local communities;
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s) Decommissioning - the activity or process that begins after cessation of
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prospecting activities or mineral production (including metallurgical plant
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production). It involves, among others, the removal of unwanted
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infrastructure, making excavations and waste repositories safe and
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stable and surface rehabilitation with a view to negate or minimize any
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adverse environmental impacts remaining after cessation of mineral
20
production. It includes the aftercare or maintenance that may be
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needed;
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t) Downstream industries -
are mining activities that cover minerals
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processing, refining, manufacturing of intermediate and capital goods
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and marketing of such;
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u) Ecological profile o r eco-profiie
-
geographic-based instruments for
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planners and decision-makers which present an evaluation of the
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environmental quality and carrying capacity of an area and measures
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the specific interactions that will be affected by any and all mining
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operations;
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v) Exploration - covers the methods of searching or prospecting for mineral
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resources by non-invasive means for the purpose of determining the
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existence, extent, quantity and quality thereof, which may include but
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not limited to seismic, gravity, magnetic, electromagnetic, radar, induced
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polarization, radio-wave and electro geochemical;
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w) Extraction - ore-removal activities that take place at the mine site itself;
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x) Free, prior, and informed consent (EPIC) - the consensus of all members
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