Small-scale gold mining (GOMIAM)

Coordinator: Dr. M.E.M. de Theije
Consortium partners: Theije (VU, NL); Emanuels (WWF-Guiana/Surinam, Guiana/Surinam); Mathis (Universidade Federal de Pará, Núcleo de Altos Estudos Amazonicos, Brasil); Schouten (Solidaridad, NL)

Project goal:

Researching how to resolve conflicts caused by small-scale gold mining in the Amazon.

Introduction:

Over the last few decades, the growth in small-scale gold mining has resulted in environmental problems and socio-political conflicts in the Amazon. The countries affected include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Suriname. Uncontrolled polluting activities of small-scale gold mining often threaten the livelihoods of indigenous peoples. Cross-border tensions arise when miners from one country invade another, or smuggle gold between countries. With the recent instability in the world economy driving up the price of gold, and with techniques becoming more mechanised, the scale of the problems is increasing. As few national governments know how to respond to these developments, evidence-based policy responses are urgently required. These are what this project aims to provide.

Project description:

The first phase of the project, from 2011 to 2013, will be dedicated to a comparative analysis of the different political and environmental situations of the local populations and of the miners themselves. Our research will acknowledge the economic motivations and cultural dimensions affecting both of these groups. By creating a partnership between academic experts, politicians, local communities and small-scale miners, our project team will be able to present a comprehensive and integrated viewpoint on the issues concerned. This innovative, interdisciplinary, anthropological approach will form the basis for creating policy initiatives that will start to be implemented during the second phase of the project.