Environmental Impact of Small-scale and Artisanal Gold Mining in Southern Ecuador

Tarras-Wahlberg, Håkan; Flachier, Adriana; Fredriksson, Göran; Lane, Stuart; Lundberg, Bo; Sangfors, Olof

doi:10.1579/0044-7447-29.8.484

Cited by 71 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The World Bank (1998) pinpoints air quality, hydrology, ecology and biodiversity, social concerns, resource use, occupational and health issues as potential impact vectors for mining. This corresponds with documented environmental impacts of ASM worldwide (Tarras‐Wahlberg et al ., 2000; Hilson, 2002; Aryee et al ., 2003; Kitula, 2006). Impacts of most concern are those which negatively affect the rich, high value biodiversity and environmental services in the landscape, particularly protected areas.…”

Section: Environmental Impacts Of Artisanal Miningsupporting

confidence: 86%

Where artisanal mines and forest meet: Socio-economic and environmental impacts in the Congo Basin

Ingram

Tieguhong

Schure

et al. 2011

Natural Resources Forum

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Where artisanal mines and forest meet: socio-economic and environmental impacts in the Congo Basin Ingram, V.J.; Tieguhong, J.C.; Schure, J.; Nkamgnia, E.; Tadjuidje, M.H. General rightsIt is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), other than for strictly personal, individual use, unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). Disclaimer/Complaints regulationsIf you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: http://uba.uva.nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible.

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Section: Environmental Impacts Of Artisanal Miningsupporting

confidence: 86%

Where artisanal mines and forest meet: Socio-economic and environmental impacts in the Congo Basin

Ingram

Tieguhong

Schure

et al. 2011

Natural Resources Forum

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“…The most severe impact of small-scale uncontrolled mining is the abundance of toxic pollutants, which enter local watersheds (Mol & Ouboter 2004, Tarras-Wahlberg et al 2000. There is also evidence for the social destruction caused by miners entering into communities, including increases in violence and the spread of malaria (Barbeiri et al 2005, Bezerra et al 1996, and sexually-transmitted diseases to local people (Faas et al 1999).…”

Section: Threats To Conservation In the Cordillera Del Cóndor As Percmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The results of monitoring done by the Ecuadorian Proyecto de Desarrollo Minero y su Control Ambiental (PRODEMIN-CA 1999) show that mining in southeastern Ecuador has severely contaminated waterways with waste products of cyanide, mercury and other metals and metalloids. This has resulted in a decrease of faunal diversity, with no animal species present in several highly polluted stretches of river (Tarras-Wahlberg et al 2000). Many residents of Warints commented on the decrease in abundance of fish in the Warints River once the copper mining company began working in the territory and persisting one year after the company had abandoned the mining camp.…”

Section: Threats To Conservation In the Cordillera Del Cóndor As Percmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observations on Natural Resource Use and Conservation by the Shuar in Ecuador's Cordillera del Cóndor

Duchelle

2007

Ethnobot. Res. App.

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Research AbstractUnderstanding how indigenous people use and manage natural resources is essential for promoting conservation on indigenous lands. I evaluated how one Shuar indigenous community in the Cordillera del Cóndor of Ecuador use woody taxa in mature and secondary forest, cultivate swidden land, value natural resources and view changes to their environment. Field research, conducted from January February of 2003, involved ethnobotanical survey methods and interviews with 25 community members. A total of 104 plant species were classified according to ethnobotanical use. Food, forage, construction and fuel were the most common use categories for forest plants. In the swidden plot, most plants were used for food, with native trees protected among a diversity of cultivars, primarily to attract wildlife. Mining is considered the biggest threat to conservation in the Cordillera del Cóndor's proposed Shuar Protected Area and will need to be addressed by the Shuar, supporting NGOs and the Ecuadorian government.

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“…However, several studies are reporting that artisanal, informal mining also gives rise to environmental problems (e.g. Tarras-Wahlberg et al, 2000;Hilson, 2002;Babut et. al., 2003;Waziri, 2014) and that the consequences could be more serious due to higher levels of exposure, in addition to the fact because these non-formal operations are hardly regulated by government agencies, their impact on the environment may go completely unnoticed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Geochemistry of Mine Tailings Soils in the Artisanal Gold Mining District of Betare -Oya, Cameroon

Manga

Neba

Suh

2017

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Changes in trace element concentrations in mine tailings (dry and wet) were investigated in the gold mining area of Bétaré-Oya, Eastern Cameroon. Forty-one surface sediment samples were analyzed using ICP-MS for heavy metals and pollution was assessed using Enrichment Ratio and Geo Accumulation Index (Igeo); using a sample from a remote area as control.Trace elements in mine tailings show significant increase compared to the background (control) values, with the exception of Sr and Nb. It is suggested that allochtonous deposition may account for Sr distribution. A strong correlation is observed between the lithophile elements; Y, Nb, Ce, La, and Pb. Their association with each other is also strong, i.e. Nb/Ce (.73) and La/Ce (.63). The close association of these elements in the samples may be an indication of the effect of resistant heavy minerals from felsic rocks (mainly granites and gneisses). Cu, Zn, Sr and Ba distribution is associated with mineralisation of sulphide-bearing minerals and clay formation from weathering of mica schist. Cu, Zn, As, W, Mo and Ag have been identified as potential pollutants. Compared to the Dutch soil quality guidelines, these elements are above the target values and below the intervention levels. Arsenic is considered to be the most threatening element, with regards to its potency. The distribution of As in this area appears to be controlled by mining activities.

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Environmental Impact of Small-scale and Artisanal Gold Mining in Southern Ecuador

Cited by 71 publications

References 10 publications

Where artisanal mines and forest meet: Socio-economic and environmental impacts in the Congo Basin

Where artisanal mines and forest meet: Socio-economic and environmental impacts in the Congo Basin

Observations on Natural Resource Use and Conservation by the Shuar in Ecuador's Cordillera del Cóndor

Environmental Geochemistry of Mine Tailings Soils in the Artisanal Gold Mining District of Betare -Oya, Cameroon

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