The mining industry is often portrayed in the media as being inherently destructive and having little regard for local communities and their environment.

In particular, there have been numerous recent examples in Latin America where local stakeholders have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the impacts of projects on their communities. However, many Canadian mining companies are striving to rebuild the credibility of the extractives sector through their commitment to sustainable practices and to fulfilling their corporate social responsibility. In doing so, they’re acquiring the necessary “social licence” to operate and reducing project risk for all parties. This article in Business in Vancouver examines how mining companies are rising to the task of building positive relationships with the communities in which they wish to operate.