Socioeconomic dimensions of mercury pollution abatement: Engaging artisanal mining communities in Sub-Saharan Africa

Spiegel, Samuel J.

doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.07.015

Cited by 53 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…There are those that focus on the mercury levels on human hair (Laffont et al 2011) and urine and blood samples (Baeuml et al 2011). A few studies looked at socio-economic dimensions (Spiegel 2009;Tamara et al 2011). Another minority group of literature during this period attempted to look at strategies for reducing the impacts by reprocessing mercury-contaminated waste (Sousa et al 2010) and adaptive management strategies to combat mercury pollution (Velasquez-Lopez et al 2010).…”

Section: Gap Analysis On Health and Environmental Methodologies In Asmmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Without reasonable opportunities, AS miners feel compelled to substantially disregard the law and pre-existing rights in order to secure their own livelihoods, which is apparently the case even in countries where AS mining has been legalised (Davidson 1993). Policy rhetoric can stir political scepticism when governments are inclined to grant large scale mining companies most of the mineral rights while poorer AS miners have little or no access to resource rights (Spiegel 2009;Fisher 2007). Although large scale mining companies seem legally compliant in contrast to transient ASM, policymakers should not forget that the latter is a self-organising system that drives local socio-economic development.…”

Section: Legal Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Governments perceive that the resistance and outright refusal of the AS miners to implement environmental safeguards is what drives the pervasive mercury contamination problem (Hilson 2006). However, other ASM researchers argue that it is the lack of support from governments and donor organisations to manage the risks that matter which consequentially sustains the pollution problem (Spiegel 2009;Jonsson et al 2013;Hilson 2006).…”

Section: Statement Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unless formalised, ASM lack technical assistance and have poor access to markets and basic support services for safety, health and sanitation needs. ASM strives to be formalised (Spiegel 2009) but government policies which may be amenable to the mining industry in general are not appropriate to ASM. In the Philippines, many provinces have opposed the national government's antipathy towards ASM and its support for large scale mines (O'Faircheallaigh and Corbett 2016).…”

Section: Another Province In the Philippines Provides A Different Outmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, this is not necessarily the case. Scholarly works have been made to analyse the political relationships surrounding mineral resource governance including economic development, corruption, elite capture, poverty alleviation and other sociopolitical and socio-economic considerations (Spiegel 2009;Verbrugge 2014;Banchirigah 2006;Hilson 2006;Hilson & McQuilken 2014;Tschakert 2009). They vary according to the positioning of the author of the case in question.…”

Section: Legal Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Integration of health and safety risk management into the implementation of gold processing technology in artisanal and small scale mining (ASM) communities in the Philippines

Logrosa¹

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Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a growing industry sector employing 20 to 30 million people worldwide. In the Philippines ASM activities are an important source of employment and a significant contributor to the country's economy. However, ASM activities are also the source of health, safety and environmental (HSE) issues that impact people at work, in the home, and in communities. HSE risks can be reduced depending if mercury-free technology is introduced, implemented and accepted in key Philippine ASM provinces.In this study, risk factors that affect the technology implementation process are identified using the risk perceptions of key stakeholders who can have a significant influence on the acceptance of technology through their roles. The risk perceptions were collected from the technology experts that shaped the technology design and construction, from the technology endusers -the AS miners who will determine the technology acceptance and assimilation, from government representatives and advocate groups who influence the sustainability of the technology in terms of its function to society as a whole.Key contributions of this study include the development of an appropriate methodology to produce evidence-based insights into prevalent and important stakeholder risk perceptions associated with the introduction of cleaner gold processing technology in ASM communities in the Philippines. Data was collected on-site from three ASM areas in the Philippines and from stakeholders comprising technology developers, national and local governments, advocate groups, local communities and AS miners using interviews and surveys. The three ASM areas studied were Benguet, Agusan del Norte and Compostela Valley. The range of risks identified come from the categories of political, HSE, economic, social, and technological. Different risk perceptions were elicited for a mercury-free gold processing technology with the relevance and relative importance of these risk perceptions across the different stakeholder groups validated using comparative analysis and descriptive statistics.There were two main outcomes from this study. Publications included in this thesisNo publications included. Contributions by others to the thesisProfessor David Cliff provided the oversight conception of the research project; contributed to refining and researching especially for the first research question; contributed to group review of empirical observations, survey questionnaire design and interview questionnaire design; contributed to critically revising the thesis; supported researcher through conferences and training.Associate Professor Maureen Hassall contributed to the design details of the research project; to refining and researching especially for the second research question; contributed to analysing and interpreting risk perceptions data; contributed to group review of empirical observations, survey questionnaire design and interview questionnaire design; contributed to peer-review process of risk assessment, thematic anal...

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Section: Gap Analysis On Health and Environmental Methodologies In Asmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Legal Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Statement Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Another Province In the Philippines Provides A Different Outmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Legal Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Integration of health and safety risk management into the implementation of gold processing technology in artisanal and small scale mining (ASM) communities in the Philippines

Logrosa¹

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Mycelium Composites for Sustainable Development in Developing Countries: The Case for Africa

Akromah,

Chandarana,

Eichhorn

2023

Advanced Sustainable Systems

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The socio‐economic struggles in Africa are partly attributed to the low productivity of the agricultural sector. The Sustainable Development Goals Centre for Africa (SDGC/A) and the African Development Bank Group (AfDBG) both agree that the continent needs sustainable interventions to boost agricultural productivity, employment, and income. In this regard, mycelium composite production can present one potential solution. The added value to agricultural waste used to produce mycelium composites can generate additional revenue for farmers, serving as an incentive to increase agricultural productivity. Furthermore, the establishment of mycelium composite start‐ups can increase employment and income, especially for women and the youth. Mycelium composites can also aid in mitigating environmental and health challenges caused by some of the current waste management practices in Africa. This review offers valuable insights into the potential use of mycelium composites as a sustainable alternative for Africa. It explores the potential use of locally accessible resources, the potential applications for the composites in Africa, and the potential challenges that may arise with this technology. It further assesses the potential contribution of this technology to sustainable development in Africa in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN).

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Policy integration by implementation: Lessons from frontline staff policy practices around small‐scale gold mining in Liberia

2023

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Environmental policy integration is needed to ensure environmental policy goals are being realized, given their cross‐sectoral nature. Most of the published research has focused on integration and coherence of (inter)national policies, plans, and programs. The implementation practices for these policies, however, are at least as important. This paper therefore looks at policy implementation for the case of artisanal gold mining in Liberia. This is studied through a lens of frontline staff (street‐level bureaucrats) who operate in networks of local government agencies, civil society organizations, and communities. Results of interviews and field observations in Grand Gedeh county show how the policy context and local realities create specific dilemmas, resulting from the combination of limited resources of local frontline staff, low‐income security for local communities and traditional local practices around protected forest areas. In response local frontline bureaucrats use their discretionary power and network to mobilize support, pool resources, combine mandates, and find creative solutions to both regulate and support community residents. Although these implementation strategies are neither necessarily sufficient to realize the official policy goals, nor are guaranteed to have the desired effects, they do show how local frontline staff act as de facto policymakers. Recognizing frontline staff as environmental policy integrators therefore is a crucial element toward more successful policies for sustainable development.

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Socioeconomic dimensions of mercury pollution abatement: Engaging artisanal mining communities in Sub-Saharan Africa

Cited by 53 publications

References 66 publications

Integration of health and safety risk management into the implementation of gold processing technology in artisanal and small scale mining (ASM) communities in the Philippines

Integration of health and safety risk management into the implementation of gold processing technology in artisanal and small scale mining (ASM) communities in the Philippines

Mycelium Composites for Sustainable Development in Developing Countries: The Case for Africa

Policy integration by implementation: Lessons from frontline staff policy practices around small‐scale gold mining in Liberia

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