‘What is legal?’ Formalising artisanal and small-scale mining in Colombia by Cristina Echavarría. Colombia’s mining sector is characterised by widespread informality. A recent census revealed that 72 per cent of all mining operations in Colombia are classed as ‘artisanal and small-scale mining’ (ASM), and 63 per cent are ‘informal’, lacking a legal mining concession or title. Large-scale mining (LSM) comprises only one per cent of operations. Over 340,000 Colombians depend directly on ASM and medium-scale mining (MSM) for their income. This informality deprives the state of important financial resources, while the current poor conditions (environmental, social, health and safety, labour, technical and trading) prevent the sector from delivering on important social objectives, such as generating formal employment and improving quality of life in mining communities. And download the complete publication here: bit.ly/1sigLB0 This paper assesses these past formalisation processes, analysing the barriers to formalisation for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and offering approaches to overcome them. It highlights that now is a critical moment for Colombia’s mining sector as positive drivers align for change: the government’s 2013 formalisation policy; evolving relationships between ASM and large-scale mining; global drivers such as mercury elimination, conflict-free mineral sourcing and investment in traceable certified gold; and the peace negotiations currently underway to end more than 50 years of armed conflict, of which formalisation of ASM is a key component. The Alliance for Responsible Mining - ARM, in partnership with the International Institute for Environment and Development - IIED, is proud to present a new publication that explores challenges and opportunities for the Formalization of the Artisanal and Small Scale mining sector in Colombia, with a strong emphasis on gold. We have launched the English publication today at the 10th Annual General Meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) taking place in Geneva, Switzerland and we look forward to having it available in Spanish early 2015. Cristina Echavarría has over 20 years of experience in grassroots community development, social research and administration of research programs in participatory natural resource management, with emphasis on the social, environmental and governance dimensions of the sustainable development of mineral rich regions. Cristina created the Mining, Environment and Communities research group at the University of Antioquia (Medellin) in 1997, and between 2000 and early 2005 she was the Director of the Mining Policy Research Initiative of Canadian IDRC, and regional coordinator in South Amercia for the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development Project (MMSD). Cristina led ARM as the Executive Director from 2005 to July 2011. She is a consultant to governments, communities, NGOs and mining companies, and has published widely.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 13:58:45 +0000
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