Formalizing artisanal gold mining under the Minamata convention: Previewing the challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa

Hilson, Gavin; Zolnikov, Tara Rava; Ramirez-Ortiz, Daisy; Kumah, Cynthia

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2018.03.026

Cited by 78 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Hentschel, Hruschka, and Priester in their joint publications: Global Report on Artisanal & Small-Scale Mining [14] and Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining-Challenges and Opportunities [38] focus on socioeconomic aspects that accompany the environmental aspects of ASM. ASM is often mentioned in connection with gold mining, where environmental degradation occurs as a result of mercury usage [31,[39][40][41][42][43][44][45]. Mercury can then contaminate water resources, soil, air, and can also enter the human body, as confirmed by research in mining sites around the world.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The states that ratify the Convention cooperate, in particular, in the training and support of research on mercury alternatives, technological and financial aid, exchange of information, and partnerships that could help in the implementation of these objectives. The Convention objectives, however, will only be fulfilled provided that there is compliance with the set rules and their follow-up inspection [43,98,105]. The largest mining localities in Uganda include the Kilembe site, which was shut down in the 1980s, but is currently being re-opened.…”

Section: Influence On Soil Fertility Due To Asm In Glrmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Typology of Environmental Impacts of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in African Great Lakes Region

Macháček

2019

Sustainability

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Artisanal and small-scale mining is a widespread economic sector in the African Great Lakes Region, where it has an adverse impact on the population's environment. The purpose of this paper is to summarize and consider the typology of the environmental impacts of artisanal and small-scale mining, in particular, the anthropogenic influences on topography with regard to the methods used in raw material mining. Among the most significant environmental aspects related to artisanal and small-scale mining are deforestation, changes in landscape structure, influence over geomorphological processes and hydrological river regime, chemical pollution of soil and watercourses, influencing soil production capacity. The aforementioned factors can cause health problems such as silicosis, poisoning by methyl orthophosphate, or injury during the mining activity itself. Artisanal and small-scale mining could initiate new geomorphological processes or modify naturally occurring geomorphological processes. These dynamic processes are influenced by the topography of the relief, soil properties, and rock composition. Anthropogenic activity in these cases may lead to faster reshaping (degradation or abrasion) of soil shapes. This study covers a broad understanding of environmental impacts of artisanal and small-scale mining with a focus on anthropogenic influencing.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Influence On Soil Fertility Due To Asm In Glrmentioning

confidence: 99%

Typology of Environmental Impacts of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in African Great Lakes Region

Macháček

2019

Sustainability

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“…Traditionally, artisanal miners have predominantly been part of the informal sector. They have generally paid little or no tax, their gold output tends not to enter formal marketing channels within the country, and they frequently use mercury to process their gold (Jønsson, Appel, and Chibunda 2009;Hilson et al 2018a). Thus, much of the policyoriented literature is directed at discussing ways and means of controlling ASM by requiring them to obtain formal mining licenses, locationally concentrating their activities at designated areas and providing them with processing support Verbrugge and Geenen 2019).…”

Section: African Mining Dynamics In the 21 St Centurymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mining mobility and settlement during an East African gold boom: Seeking fortune and accommodating fate

Bryceson

Jønsson²,

Shand

2020

Mobilities

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In light of Shiller's concept of 'irrational exuberance', we interrogate migrants' optimistic material expectations at artisanal and industrial gold mining locations during a period of exceptional mobility spurred by the international gold boom of 2000-2013. Our household survey and interview findings reveal miners' and residents' mobility and settlement patterns in three Tanzanian gold mining settlements, representing different stages and forms of mining along a trajectory of deepening gold extraction and increasing urbanization. Resident miners', traders' and service providers' personal motivations, strategies and dilemmas surface. The constancy of migrants' motivation for economic betterment and the contingency of their strategic thinking in the face of gold supply uncertainty emerges clearly. However, mining site residents' highly mobile lives entail toleration of temporary, inadequate housing in infrastructurally deficient, polluted and unsafe mining environments, a situation at odds with their aims for lifestyle enhancement. Given the unpredictability of gold production, residents reconcile their expectations of striking it rich with the reality of suboptimal outcomes. Those who gain satisfaction and esteem in their careers are likely to do so through high levels of mobility, ultimately rewarded with desirable housing and settlement locations, whereas others adapt to constrained mobility and unenviable settlement locations, or abandon mining.

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“…Others have also examined the push and pull factors within the sector (Afriyie, Ganle, & Adomako, ; Hilson & Potter, ). Similarly, some studies have also explored the social impacts of ASM on issues such as child labor, criminal activities and gender inequality (Banchirigah, ; Hilson, ; Hilson, Zolnikov, Ortiz, & Kumah, ). Recently, a number of studies have also begun to explore the disconnect between the formalization of the ASM sector and fruitful livelihood enhancement in mining communities (Maconachie & Hilson, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Criminalization of “galamsey” and livelihoods in Ghana: Limits and consequences

Tuokuu

Idemudia

Bawelle

et al. 2020

Natural Resources Forum

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The fact that the artisanal and small‐scale mining (ASM) sector in Ghana is driven largely by poverty means that the sector is a major source of livelihood for people in mining communities across the country. However, given the various social and environmental problems associated with the ASM sector, there is now an emerging consensus that the formalization of the sector would not only allow for these associated problems to be addressed but also ensures that the sector contributes to sustainable development and safeguard the livelihood of local communities. While a large body of extant literature has examined the challenges and opportunities facing the process of formalization, the question of the criminalization of the sector and its consequences for local livelihood has received only limited attention. Drawing from primary data collected during fieldwork in Ghana, this study examined the livelihood implications of the ban on galamsey in the Tarkwa‐Nsuaem Municipality in South‐Western Ghana from the perspectives of local communities and other key stakeholders. The study reveals that the ban on galamsey has imposed significant socio‐economic hardships on the people and appears to be entrenching poverty rather than sustainable development. The study considers the theoretical and practical implications of the findings for sustainable livelihood enhancement in developing countries.

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Formalizing artisanal gold mining under the Minamata convention: Previewing the challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa

Cited by 78 publications

References 28 publications

Typology of Environmental Impacts of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in African Great Lakes Region

Typology of Environmental Impacts of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in African Great Lakes Region

Mining mobility and settlement during an East African gold boom: Seeking fortune and accommodating fate

Criminalization of “galamsey” and livelihoods in Ghana: Limits and consequences

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