Studying the data spread over 23 years (1981-2003), the Food and Agriculture Organisation has concluded that 24 per cent of the global land area has degraded. This is over and above the extent of land that had already degraded. The situation has only worsened since 1991 when the previous assessment was made. According to the FAO, in India about 592,000 square kilometres of land has deteriorated

The traditional lifestyle of the Appalachian peaks of West Virginia is under threat from mining companies who blow the summits off mountains to reach the coal deposits that lie beneath the surface. "They are killing off the culture of the mountain people," said Maria Gunnoe, who lives on a hillside which has had its insides dug out to expose a huge mine called Jupiter. "We are fighting not only for now but also for yesterday and tomorrow," she said. Mountaintop removal mining, or MTR, is not only affecting traditions, but also polluting drinking water and air in the region.

Residents from Shivsorem and Colomba in Rivona are gearing up to oppose an iron ore mining lease, with a public hearing slated for June 18 from 11 am at Rivona V K S S Society, Rivona. Residents have alleged that the mine owner started operating from the mine since September 2007 without obtaining any permission from mining department or Ministry of Environment and Forest. However, Mines department in May stopped the operations.

The Gawda Kunbi Velip and Dhangar Federation of Colomba unit on Friday filed a complaint at the Quepem police against a mine operating at Gulkon Donger for releasing polluted water and mining silt into their agricultural fields.

India announced a new National Mineral Policy (for non-coal and non-fuel minerals) in early April, after two-and-a-half years of wrangling between mineral-rich states and the central government,