Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Senegal: Livelihoods, Customary Authority, and Formalization

Persaud, Anthony W.; Telmer, Kevin; Costa, Maycira; Moore, Michele‐Lee

doi:10.1080/08941920.2016.1273417

Cited by 76 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In Senegal, similar to many other ASGM countries, over 70% of the local population is estimated to be directly involved in ASGM activities, with even more indirectly impacted [Persaud et al, 2017]; thus, Hg-induced health effects are a source of concern for these communities. While most studies have focused on inhalation of Hg vapors and ingestion of fish as the major pathways of exposure, this study suggests that terrestrial pathways can also be an important source of exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With 71% of the population in the Kedougou region living below the poverty line (<1 USD per day), the average of 4-7 USD earned per day from ASGM has popularized the activity [Persaud et al, 2017]. In 2007, it was estimated that 10,000 people in Senegal were working as miners and that at least 30,000 additional people lived in close proximity to ASGM activities or had family members who worked in ASGM [Savornin et al, 2007]; this amounted to 20% of the Kedougou regional population mining and 50% indirectly impacted by ASGM [WTO, 2009;Boyer, 2011].…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gold mining has occurred in Senegal since the 1970s, but evidence suggests that ASGM activities have intensified since 2000 [Savornin et al, 2007;Persaud et al, 2017]. With 71% of the population in the Kedougou region living below the poverty line (<1 USD per day), the average of 4-7 USD earned per day from ASGM has popularized the activity [Persaud et al, 2017].…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2007, it was estimated that 10,000 people in Senegal were working as miners and that at least 30,000 additional people lived in close proximity to ASGM activities or had family members who worked in ASGM [Savornin et al, 2007]; this amounted to 20% of the Kedougou regional population mining and 50% indirectly impacted by ASGM [WTO, 2009;Boyer, 2011]. ASGM has increased dramatically since 2007, now estimated to involve 77.5% of the regional population and hundreds of villages [Doucouré, 2014;Persaud et al, 2017] and resulting in a 10-fold increase in gold production [Reichl et al, 2017]. Note that the number of people involved in ASGM activities at each village varies seasonally and annually; more people are involved in the dry season and when the village produced a high total gold extraction the previous year.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Senegalese artisanal gold mining leads to elevated total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in soils, sediments, and rivers

Gerson

Driscoll

Hsu‐Kim

et al. 2018

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Gerson, JR, et al. 2018 Senegalese artisanal gold mining leads to elevated total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in soils, sediments, and rivers. Elem Sci Anth, 6: 11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.274 Introduction Mercury (Hg) -predominantly in the form of methylmercury (MeHg) -is a potent neurotoxin that can significantly impair human health [Driscoll et al., 2013]. Prolonged exposure increases the risk for brain and neurological damage, which is especially harmful for pregnant women and children [Harada, 1995; Grandjean et al., 1997;Selin, 2014]. Although there are many potential sources of Hg, direct inhalation from anthropogenic emissions and consumption of fish constitute the major pathways of human exposure. Even when Hg concentrations are low in water, Hg concentrations can reach dangerously high levels in fish due to bioaccumulation and biomagnification [Morel et al., 1998; Driscoll et al., 2007]. Controlling Hg contamination in the environment has been a primary target of local and national health and environmental agendas for decades and, most recently, an issue of international concern addressed by the 2013 Minamata Convention on Mercury, which came into force in August 2017 [UNEP, 2013;Selin, 2014].The largest source of Hg to the environment is artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), which releases 1,400 tons of Hg annually into the air, soil, and water [Schmidt, 2012] and accounts for an estimated 37% of global anthropogenic Hg emissions [Telmer and Veiga, 2009; UNEP, 2013]. In the process of ASGM, liquid elemental Hg (Hg 0 ) is utilized to separate gold from sediments. After the formation of a Hg-gold amalgam, the mixture is heated to create pellets of gold, while the Hg is released into the atmosphere or deposited as mining waste directly into soil and water. Despite the health effects, many of which are unknown to ASGM communities, Hg is used in this process because it is inexpensive to obtain, easy to use, does not require time-consuming processing, and results in a high gold recovery rate [Telmer and Veiga, 2009] It is estimated that more than 10 million people, including over 3 million women and children, work in ASGM across more than 70 developing countries in Asia, South America, and sub-Saharan Africa. Families directly involved in the mining are exposed daily to levels of Hg vapor that far exceed the World Health Organization's guidelines [Cordy et al., 2011] The largest source of global mercury (Hg) anthropogenic inputs to the environment is derived from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) activities in developing countries. While our understanding of global Hg emissions from ASGM is growing, there is limited empirical documentation about the levels of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) contamination near ASGM sites. We measured THg and MeHg concentrations in soil (n = 119), sediment (n = 22), and water (n = 25) from four active ASGM villages and one non-ASGM reference village in Senegal, West Africa. Nearly all samples had THg and MeHg concent...

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Senegalese artisanal gold mining leads to elevated total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in soils, sediments, and rivers

Gerson

Driscoll

Hsu‐Kim

et al. 2018

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In recent years, the rate of human population growth has substantially increased due to migration [Prause, 2016], which is primarily linked to growth in large-scale and artisanal gold mining [Persuad et al, 2017]. This rise in extractive industries likely places unsustainable pressure on natural resource use, primarily in UPAs where large-scale mining operations exist, and where artisanal small-scale gold mining now proliferates due to re-cord high gold prices [Boyer-Ontl, 2017].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Informing Protection Efforts for Critically Endangered Chimpanzees (<b><i>Pan troglodytes verus</i></b>) and Sympatric Mammals amidst Rapid Growth of Extractive Industries in Senegal

Lindshield

Bogart

Gueye³

et al. 2019

Folia Primatol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Updated information on Critically Endangered western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Senegal is urgently needed, given that gold mining is rapidly transforming landscapes and livelihoods. Specifically, biodiversity assessments will better elucidate the chimpanzee extinction risk here and yield baselines for monitoring. We compared mammal species richness between Fongoli (unprotected) and Assirik in Niokolo-Koba National Park to assess the efficacy of the only nationally protected area where chimpanzees range in this country. The primary habitat difference between these sites was the degree of human activity. Although Assirik and Fongoli had similar mammal assemblages and were equivalent in primate species richness, the protected area was higher in species richness overall, particularly for ungulates and carnivores. The protected status and management plan of Niokolo-Koba almost certainly resulted in fewer mammal extinctions. In unprotected areas, the flexible behavioural responses of chimpanzees to human-driven landscape dynamics is likely essential to their long-term survival. Furthermore, the near absence of chimpanzee killings in this country greatly facilitates conservation efforts. Given that mineral extraction is a key development strategy in Senegal, we encourage primatologists to collaborate with mining stakeholders to ensure that sustainability programming includes contributions from experts in savannah chimpanzee behavior and ecology.

show abstract

Working with legal small‐scale miners: Implications for development

Botchwey

Nest²,

D'Emidio

2022

J of Intl Development

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Development initiatives focused on illegal artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) typically assume that formalisation will address environmental degradation and poverty.But there is little research on legal small-scale miners' (SSMs) perceptions of their environmental impacts, or on demographic characteristics that should inform development programmes. Based on a survey of 137 legal SSMs, this study analysed the perceptions and practices of legal SSMs within the context of an accountability, rule of law and anti-corruption programme, with an environmental governance subtheme, in Ghana. Data suggest that formalisation may not be a panacea for improving environmental governance, findings with policy and practical implications for development programmes.

show abstract

Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Senegal: Livelihoods, Customary Authority, and Formalization

Cited by 76 publications

References 31 publications

Senegalese artisanal gold mining leads to elevated total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in soils, sediments, and rivers

Senegalese artisanal gold mining leads to elevated total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in soils, sediments, and rivers

Informing Protection Efforts for Critically Endangered Chimpanzees (<b><i>Pan troglodytes verus</i></b>) and Sympatric Mammals amidst Rapid Growth of Extractive Industries in Senegal

Working with legal small‐scale miners: Implications for development

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About