Brasilia, October 6, 2008 — The World Bank’s Communities and Small-scale Mining initiative (CASM) and the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Brazil are co-hosting an international conference that will look into practical ways of improving the conditions of millions of artisanal and small-scale miners within the context of the international community’s efforts to achieve the so-called Development Millennium Goals or MDGs. This year’s CASM’s annual international conference from October 6-10 will be held in Brasilia where artisanal and small-scale mining experts along with representatives from major mining companies and some 30 countries will take stock of the situation of artisanal miners around the world. This year’s main topic for discussion is “Digging to Deliver Development”, which aims to show the direct links between improving the situation of artisanal and small-scale miners and achieving most of the MDGs. At least 20 million people in some 50 countries around the world engage in artisanal and small-scale mining, and a further 100 million people depend on it for their livelihood, almost always in appalling environmental and social conditions, according to CASM, a multi-donor global program supported by the World Bank Group, Dfid, Danida, and other donors. “The World Bank is honored to co-host this conference in Brasilia” says John Briscoe, World Bank’s Country Director. “Small-scale mining is very important in Brazil for several reasons. A large population – about one million people – is engaged in it. Improving the quality of their lives is fundamental. There are also major environmental consequences from these activities, including deforestation and water pollution. These activities usually take place in remote areas where the government faces great difficulties in regulating and supporting these activities and the people engaged in them. Brazil has made some progress in addressing these, and looks forward to sharing this experience and learning from others." Because of the country’s size and diversity, artisanal and small-scale mining in Brazil is an important challenge for both government and industry to ensure that this activity contributes to economic growth and poverty reduction. The range of commodities exploited by Brazilian artisan miners is diverse, including gemstones, construction aggregates such as gravel and sand, and clay. "I would like to emphasize the importance of a segment of the Brazilian mining sector which is too often forgotten. I am referring to small-scale mining, an activity which cannot be considered as a second priority. This segment represents more than 70% of the mining enterprises of the country; 25% of the contracted work force - and, if taking into account the informals, would reach up to 40% of the sector workers -. It also dominates in the production of clay to manufacture bricks and tiles, sand and gravel as construction materials, slates, limestone, gems, gypsum, granite, diamonds, feldspar, mica, quartzite and other mineral commodities", says Edison Lobão, Brazil Minister of Mines and Energy. "As Minister of Mines and Energy, and with my experience as a Congressman and a Governor, I consider important to help and promote the small-scale mining enterprises which need the support of the government to develop their production in a sustainable way. This is also true for artisanal mining activities, as long as they comply with the mining and environmental regulations", as expressed Edison Lobão, Minister of Mines and Energy in a recent interview. The social and economic characteristics of small-scale mining fully reflect the challenges of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including: health, environment, gender, education, child labor, and poverty eradication. Small-scale mining communities, for instance, are highly vulnerable to communicable diseases including malaria, tuberculosis, influenza, cholera, yellow fever, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV/AIDS. Further, large scale mining often comes to areas of traditional artisanal and small-scale mining, which creates potential conflicts around issues of land ownership rights and alternative livelihoods, particularly in post-conflict and fragile states which already experience high levels of social and economic stress. In order to address some of these issues, the World Bank-led CASM initiative is helping establish positive and productive relationships amongst local communities, large scale mining companies and government agencies within an equitable and effective legal framework. CASM’s work program engages 35 other organizations in 25 countries across different regions, with potential benefits for thousands of people. CASM is also looking to advance integrated social and economic development, including the utilization of environmentally responsible techniques in the exploitation of minerals. And it is also helping all relevant stakeholders to comply with international standards related to labor regulations and occupational health and safety. “It is equally important to provide artisanal miners with acceptable incomes through productive mining practices which enhance local infrastructure and services, and to allow for long-term efficient resource extraction with access to fair markets and sources of credit,” explains Gotthard Walser, manager of the CASM initiative at the World Bank. |
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