In this episode of the series “Lithium – Experts Speak”, Prof. Dr. Imre Krizmanić, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Biology of the University of Belgrade and one of the authors of the biodiversity study of the Jadar Valley, discusses the ecological, biological, and social consequences of the planned lithium mining project in Serbia. Based on field research conducted with more than 20 scientists and an analysis covering nearly 30,000 hectares included in the Jadar project area, Professor Krizmanić warns that this is a region of exceptional natural value, where over 250 protected and strictly protected species and habitats have been recorded. He emphasizes that the planned mine would lead to massive and irreversible destruction of habitats, disruption of water systems, and long-term pollution that cannot be remedied through technical mitigation measures. In the discussion, he stresses that there is no such thing as “environmentally acceptable” or “sustainable” mining when it comes to nature, that the technology for processing jadarite is untested and has never been applied anywhere in the world, and that the population of the Jadar region and the wider area would become part of a high-risk experiment with unforeseeable consequences for nature, human health, and the survival of local communities.

You can watch the entire episode on our YouTube channel „Lithium: Experts Speak“  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTuoZExNdTQ