An environmental study of artisanal, small, and medium mining in Bolivia, Chile, and Peru, Volumes 23-429

Annotation World Bank Technical Paper no. 429. Mining exploration investment in the Latin American and Caribbean region has increased 130 percent in the last five years, a figure which increases to 500 percent, if Chile is excluded. Governments have revamped mining legislation to enable private investment while becoming more sensitive to environmental factors. In light of this legislation, this report examines the environmental effects of artisanal, small, and medium mines in three Latin American Countries: Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Four of the most important elements to be considered are: the age of the mine Management of tailings the heterogeneity of the artisanal and small mine sectors the increasing need to take cultural considerations into account in the decision making process. The paper contains results of the studies on the various mining sectors, strategy and policy recommendations, and country study summaries This paper synthesizes a study examining the environmental performance of artisanal, mall, and medium mining in Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Summaries of each of the three country studies are also included. Significant emphasis is placed on the viability of artisanal, small, and medium mines if environmental costs are taken into account as well as policy actions to improve the environmental performance of viable mines. Given that indigenous groups, with their historic and close ties to the land, are often an important stakeholder when discussing mining and the environment, particular concern is also placed on the relationship between the mining sector and indigenous populations in Canada was included in order to disseminate lessons to the three Latin American countries from the Canadian experience. Some of the most important conclusions and recommendations are: 1) Distinguishing mines by size is not as important as age. 2) The management of tailings could be opened up to market mechanisms. 3) Only artisanal and small mines that are economically viable should be encouraged; mining policy should not substitute for social policy. Cultural and social considerations are increasingly important in the decision-making process of the mining sector Gary Mcmahon ... [et Al.]. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.