{"id":3263,"date":"2026-05-04T12:42:05","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T04:42:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bioplusmine.earth\/?p=3263"},"modified":"2026-05-04T12:45:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T04:45:50","slug":"the-biomine-project-guiding-principles-and-practitioner-checklist-for-working-with-indigenous-peoples-in-legacy-mine-rehabilitation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bioplusmine.earth\/?p=3263","title":{"rendered":"The Bio+mine Project Guiding Principles and Practitioner Checklist for Working with Indigenous Peoples in Legacy Mine Rehabilitation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dennis Alonzo, School of Education, University of New South Wales, Sydney (d.alonzo@unsw.edu.au<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marlon Suelto, University of the Philippines, Los Ba\u00f1os, Laguna<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Developing clear principles and a practical checklist for working with Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in mine rehabilitation is essential because past and current approaches often excluded IPs\u2019 voices, overlooked their rights, and undervalued their knowledge systems, leading to conflict, mistrust, and ineffective or unsustainable outcomes. Evidence shows that when Indigenous communities are not meaningfully involved in decision-making, rehabilitation efforts fail to address cultural values, local priorities, and long-term social impacts, undermining both environmental success and social license to operate. At the same time, Indigenous knowledge offers deep, context-based insights into ecosystems, land stewardship, and restoration that can significantly improve rehabilitation outcomes when properly integrated. However, translating these insights into practice remains a challenge for practitioners who often lack clear, actionable guidance. Establishing a set of principles provides a normative foundation grounded in rights, equity, and respect, while a checklist operationalises these principles into concrete steps, ensuring consistency, accountability, and practical application across diverse contexts. Together, they help shift rehabilitation from a compliance-driven exercise to a collaborative, culturally informed, and socially just process that delivers more sustainable and accepted outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We developed guiding principles from our two literature review papers examining community engagement in legacy mine rehabilitation (Alonzo et al., 2024) and the integration of Indigenous knowledge and skills across the mining life cycle (Alonzo et al., 2025). Our reviews show that conventional top-down approaches to mine rehabilitation often fail due to the exclusion of Indigenous Peoples from decision-making and the neglect of their knowledge systems. In contrast, approaches grounded in\u00a0rights recognition, meaningful participation, knowledge integration, and long-term partnerships result in more sustainable and socially acceptable outcomes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The principles below synthesise these findings into ten core foundations, each directly linked to a practical checklist for implementation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guiding Principles and Checklists for Practitioners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1. Rights-Based and Self-Determination Principle<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Recognise Indigenous Peoples as\u00a0rights-holders\u00a0with authority over their lands, ensuring Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and meaningful participation in governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2610\u00a0Are Indigenous Peoples recognised as\u00a0rights-holders?
\u2610\u00a0Has\u00a0FPIC\u00a0been obtained and maintained?
\u2610\u00a0Are Indigenous representatives included in the project\u2019s governance structures?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Early and Continuous Engagement Principle<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Engagement must begin\u00a0early (in the\u00a0planning stage)\u00a0and continue throughout the mine life cycle, not only during closure or rehabilitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2610\u00a0Were Indigenous communities engaged\u00a0from the earliest planning stages?
\u2610\u00a0Is engagement\u00a0ongoing across all project phases?
\u2610\u00a0Are feedback loops in place to sustain engagement?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Meaningful Participation and Co-Governance Principle<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Move beyond consultation toward\u00a0co-design, partnership,\u00a0shared decision-making, and leadership transfer,\u00a0<\/strong>ensuring communities influence outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2610\u00a0Does engagement involve\u00a0co-design or shared decision-making?
\u2610\u00a0Do communities have real influence over activities and outcomes?
\u2610\u00a0Are diverse community voices (e.g., women, men, youth, farmers, teachers) included?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Knowledge Co-Production Principle<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Treat Indigenous knowledge systems as\u00a0equally\u00a0important\u00a0to scientific knowledge, integrating them into planning, implementation, and evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2610\u00a0Are Indigenous knowledge and practices\u00a0formally integrated into rehabilitation plans?
\u2610\u00a0Is Indigenous knowledge treated as\u00a0equally important\u00a0to scientific knowledge?
\u2610\u00a0Are local land management practices incorporated?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Cultural Integrity and \u201cCare for Country\u201d Principle<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Respect Indigenous worldviews and ensure rehabilitation enhances\u00a0cultural, spiritual, and ecological relationships to land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2610\u00a0Are cultural and spiritual values embedded in rehabilitation goals?
\u2610\u00a0Are culturally significant sites protected?
\u2610\u00a0Does the project restore\u00a0connections to land (\u201ccare for country\u201d)?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Trust, Transparency, and Accountability Principle<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Build\u00a0long-term trust through\u00a0transparent processes, clear communication, and accountability, especially in contexts of historical mistrust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2610 Are processes transparent and clearly communicated?
\u2610 Are commitments documented and honoured?
\u2610 Are mechanisms in place to address grievances?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Empowerment and Capacity-Building Principle<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Support Indigenous communities to\u00a0develop the capability, agency, and leadership\u00a0to\u00a0design, implement, and manage rehabilitation activities through skills development, knowledge transfer, and institutional strengthening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2610\u00a0Are training and capacity-building initiatives in place?
\u2610\u00a0Are communities empowered to\u00a0design, enact, and lead rehabilitation activities?
\u2610\u00a0Are local governance structures or leadership roles strengthened and supported?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Equity and Social Justice Principle<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Address\u00a0power imbalances and structural inequities, ensuring\u00a0inclusive participation and fair, transparent distribution of benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2610\u00a0Are power imbalances explicitly identified and addressed?
\u2610\u00a0Are marginalised groups (e.g., women, youth, sub-groups) meaningfully included?
\u2610\u00a0Are benefit-sharing arrangements\u00a0fair, transparent, and culturally appropriate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Participatory Monitoring and Adaptive Management Principle<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Engage Indigenous communities in\u00a0monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management,\u00a0using both Indigenous and scientific indicators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2610 Are Indigenous communities involved in monitoring and evaluation?
\u2610 Are both Indigenous and scientific indicators used?
\u2610 Is there a process to adapt based on community feedback?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Context-Specific and Flexible Practice Principle<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Adopt\u00a0locally tailored and flexible approaches\u00a0that reflect cultural, ecological, and governance contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2610 Are approaches tailored to local cultural and ecological contexts?
\u2610 Is flexibility built into project design and implementation?
\u2610 Are local leadership and institutions actively engaged?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We apply these principles and checklists in our Bio+mine project that aims to develop a site-specific system underpinned by the local community\u2019s knowledge and practices for rehabilitating legacy mines. Full details of the project methodology are described in Alonzo et al. (2023; 2024), Alonzo & Suelto (2023), Andalan et al. (2024), Armstrong et al. (2023), Balboa et al. (2025), Herrington et al. (2023), and Pocaan et al. (2025). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The alignment between these ten principles and the checklist ensures both conceptual clarity and practical usability. Grounded in our two literature reviews, this framework emphasises that effective legacy mine rehabilitation requires\u00a0rights-based, knowledge-inclusive, and relationship-driven approaches.\u00a0By consistently applying these principles, practitioners can move beyond compliance-driven models toward\u00a0rehabilitation practices that are environmentally sustainable, culturally meaningful, and socially just.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

References<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Alonzo, D., Abril, J. M. V., Villonez, G., Armstrong, R., Dalona, I. M., Beltran, A., Orbecido, A., Tabelin, C. B., Villacorte-Tabelin, M., Promentilla, M. A., Suelto, M., Brito-Parada, P. R., Plancherel, Y., Jungblut, A. D., Santos, A., Schofield, P. F., Resabal, V. J., & Herrington, R. (2025). Integrating indigenous knowledge and skills in mining operations: A systematic literature review. The Extractive Industries and Society<\/em>, 24<\/em>, 101706. https:\/\/doi.org\/https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.exis.2025.101706<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alonzo, D., Tabelin, C. B., Dalona, I. M., Abril, J. M. V., Beltran, A., Orbecido, A., Villacorte-Tabelin, M., Resabal, V. J., Promentilla, M. A., Suelto, M., Brito-Parada, P. R., Plancherel, Y., Jungblut, A. D., Armstrong, R., Santos, A., Schofield, P. F., & Herrington, R. (2024). Working with the community for the rehabilitation of legacy mines: Approaches and lessons learned from the literature. Resources Policy<\/em>, 98<\/em>, 105351. https:\/\/doi.org\/https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.resourpol.2024.105351<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alonzo D; Tabelin CB; Dalona IM; Beltran A; Orbecido A; Villacorte-Tabelin M; Resabal VJ; Promentilla MA; Brito-Parada P; Plancherel Y; Jungblut AD; Armstrong R; Santos A; Schofield PF; Herrington R, 2023, ‘Bio+Mine Project: Empowering the Community to Develop a Site-Specific System for the Rehabilitation of a Legacy Mine’, International Journal of Qualitative Methods<\/em>, 22, http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1177\/16094069231176340<\/a>, ROS ID: 2034309<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andalan JR; Mondejar AJS; Sumaya NHN; Guihawan JQ; Madamba MRSB; Baltazar Tabelin C; Guilingen D; Paglinawan FC; Maulas KM; Arquisal I; Beltran AB; Orbecido AH; Promentilla MA; Alonzo D; Pisda PF; Ananayo A; Suelto M; Dalona IM; Resabal VJ; Armstrong R; Jungblut AD; Santos A; Brito-Parada P; Plancherel Y; Herrington R; Villacorte-Tabelin M, 2024, ‘Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal and ritual plants utilized by the indigenous communities of Benguet province, Philippines’, Tropical Medicine and Health<\/em>, 52, http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1186\/s41182-024-00624-1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armstrong RN; Alonzo D; Dalona IM; Villacorte-Tabelin M; Tabelin CB; Beltran A; Orbecido A; Brito-Parada PR; Plancherel Y; Santos A; Herrington R; Jungblut AD; Schofield PF; Promentilla MA; Resabal VJ; Pisda PF; Ananayo A; Lawangen A; Suelto M, 2023, ‘Development of a site-specific system for the rehabilitation of legacy mines: The challenges of social, geological, hydrological, and biological data integration’, in Proceedings of the International Conference on Mine Closure<\/em>, http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.36487\/ACG_repo\/2315_012<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alonzo D; Suelto M, 2023, Social Mapping for Environmental Studies: The Key Socio-economic Parameters\u200b, https:\/\/bioplusmine.earth\/?p=1764<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balboa CJP; Pocaan JP; Baute R; Orbecido A; Beltran AB; Santos AL; Jungblut A; Plancherel Y; Brito-Parada P; Tabelin CB; Resabal VJ; Villacorte-Tabelin M; Dalona-Fernandez IM; Alonzo D; Herrington R; Armstrong R; Schofield PF; Dybowska A; Magliulo M; Baniasadi M; Promentilla MAB, 2025, ‘A novel water pollution index for domestic water quality assessment in acid mine drainage-impacted mining areas’, Minerals Engineering<\/em>, 234, http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/j.mineng.2025.109730<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Herrington RJ; Alonzo D; Armstrong RN; Balboa CJ; Baniasadi M; Beltran A; Brito-Parada PR; Cording HM; Creedy T; Dalona IM; Dybowska A; Graham A; Guihawan J; Jungblut AD; Madamba RS; Magliulo M; Maulas K; Mondejar AJ; Orbecido A; Paglinawan F; Plancherel Y; Prasow-Emond M; Promentilla MA; Rasheed S; Resabal VJ; Salatino S; Santos A; Schofield PF; Suelto M; Sumaya NH; Tabelin CB; Villacorte-Tabelin M, 2023, ‘Development of a site-specific system for the rehabilitation of a former copper mine, Sto. Ni\u00f1o, Philippines’, in Proceedings of the International Conference on Mine Closure<\/em>, http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.36487\/ACG_repo\/2315_091<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Pocaan JP; Bueno BG; Pagaduan JM; Capingian J; Pablo MAN; Paulo JLRW; Beltran AB; Orbecido AH; Tanhueco RM; Tabelin CB; Villacorte-Tabelin M; Resabal VJT; Dalona IM; Alonzo D; Brito-Parada P; Plancherel Y; Armstrong R; Jungblut AD; Santos A; Schofield PF; Herrington R; Promentilla MAB, 2025, ‘Limestone-Based Hybrid Passive Treatment for Copper-Rich Acid Mine Drainage: From Laboratory to Field’, Minerals<\/em>, 15, http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.3390\/min15101043<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dennis Alonzo, School of Education, University of New South Wales, Sydney (d.alonzo@unsw.edu.au) Marlon Suelto, University of the Philippines, Los Ba\u00f1os, Laguna Introduction Developing clear principles and a practical checklist for working with Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in mine rehabilitation is essential because past and current approaches often excluded IPs\u2019 voices, overlooked their rights, and undervalued their …<\/p>\n

The Bio+mine Project Guiding Principles and Practitioner Checklist for Working with Indigenous Peoples in Legacy Mine Rehabilitation<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bioplusmine.earth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3263"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bioplusmine.earth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bioplusmine.earth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bioplusmine.earth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bioplusmine.earth\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3263"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bioplusmine.earth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3266,"href":"https:\/\/bioplusmine.earth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3263\/revisions\/3266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bioplusmine.earth\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bioplusmine.earth\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bioplusmine.earth\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}