38 “Good environmental stewardship is shaped firstly by the need to respond appropriately to global imperatives; and secondly by our belief that the sustainable management of the natural environment is key to the future prosperity of all the countries where we operate. Global imperatives include climate change, biodiversity conservation, energy use and water security. Diamond mining impacts on the environment directly because of its need to access, use and manage land and water resources. It impacts on the environment indirectly by acting as a catalyst for further economic development. The exact nature of these impacts is different for every operation we manage.” 167 Nicky Oppenheimer, Chairman De Beers Group states that conservation is “as much about people as it is about conserving our heritage for generations to come”. 168 18 CONCLUSION 18.1 Good governance could restore a decade of economic ruin “Despite rampant corruption, smuggling and the looting of diamonds,” The Times (SA) reported on August 7, 2011 that Zimbabwe had “entered the top 10 league of the world's gem-producing countries…. [and] could yet recover from a decade of economic ruin if good governance is restored”. 169 Zimbabwe is now ranked as “the seventh biggest diamond-producing nation in the world”, according to the latest global rankings. Figures released by the diamond regulator, Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), and reproduced by US trade gem regulator, Rapaport, indicate that Zimbabwe produced diamonds worth US$334 million last year…” 170 167 De Beers Group Website/Sustainability/Environment Copyright 2008 De Beers Group. http://www.debeersgroup.com/Sustainability/Environment/ 168 De Beers Group Website/Sustainability/Environment Copyright 2008 De Beers Group. http://www.debeersgroup.com/Sustainability/Environment/ 169 Times Live (SA), ‘Zim enters big diamond league’, 7 August 2011: http://m.timeslive.co.za/?i=3692/0/0&artId=4158751&showonly=1 170 Times Live (SA), ‘Zim enters big diamond league’, 7 August 2011: http://m.timeslive.co.za/?i=3692/0/0&artId=4158751&showonly=1