Sustainability Perceptions and the NIMBY Effect: A Case Study in a Community Exposed to Mineral Resource Extraction

The mineral resources sector has faced intense social and environmental scrutiny in recent years, often driven by a perceived lack of information and transparency regarding projects. Due to a perceived lack of information and transparency regarding projects, local communities have increasingly opposed them, leading to the revision of the Portuguese Decree-Law Nº. 30/2021, which now mandates public clarification sessions for communities in affected territories. This study reviews the state of the art concerning socio-environmental conflicts and analyses the role of social awareness within the context of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). A survey was conducted in the parish of Alqueidão da Serra (Central Portugal), a community historically exposed to stone extraction, to assess perceptions of sustainability and the sector’s impact. The methodology combined the literature review with a statistical analysis of the population’s views. Results indicate that the community recognises both the economic relevance and necessity of the sector, while simultaneously expressing concerns regarding local impacts. In this context, an exploratory Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) tendency is identified in 45 ± 6% of the population, with women showing a greater propensity. The study concludes that socio-environmental issues are the primary drivers of conflict. These findings support recommendations for enhanced population sensitivity studies and structured public clarification sessions to mitigate conflict.