Mining activities are increasingly taking place in forested landscapes, driven by the mineral needs of technological advancements and a growing population. While not a main driver of global deforestation, mining in forests poses an increasing challenge, resulting in losses of biodiversity and ecosystem services like regular rainfall, clean air, and erosion control. These and many other forest-based benefits are vital to the livelihoods and wellbeing of over a billion people around the world. This brief highlights the findings and recommendations from two forthcoming reports, which identify the first known lessons learned for implementing a “forest-smart” approach to large-scale mining (LSM) and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).