Small‐scale mining and its socio‐economic impact in developing countries

TLDR

Small‑scale mining alleviates poverty and boosts national revenues in developing countries, yet its low‑tech operations and poorly trained workforce, coupled with environmental and health problems, hinder its capacity for self‑improvement. The article seeks to evaluate the positive and negative socio‑economic impacts of small‑scale mining and to propose measures that enhance sustainability, emphasizing the need for expanded government and regional support. The authors review socio‑economic impacts and outline key sustainability measures for the sector. Governments and regional organizations can improve sustainability by legalizing mining, supporting community development, and providing training, education, and technology transfer.

Abstract

This article examines both the positive and negative socio‐economic impacts of small‐scale mining in developing countries, and outlines some key measures for improving sustainability in the sector. It is important to clarify that, in spite of experiencing its share of environmental‐ and health‐related problems that adversely impact human quality‐of‐life, small‐scale mining plays a pivotal role in alleviating poverty in the developing world, and contributes significantly to national revenues and foreign exchange earnings. Though these important socio‐economic contributions make small‐scale mining an indispensable economic activity, there is an obvious need for improved sustainability in the industry, more specifically, for operations to resolve pressing problems, many of which have wide‐ranging impacts. However, because most small‐scale mines are low‐tech and employ poorly trained uneducated people, it is difficult for the sector to improve on its own. Thus, governments and regional international bodies must play an expanded role in bridging critical information, techno‐logic and economic gaps. It is concluded that governments and regional organizations could accomplish much in the way of improved sustainability in the small‐scale mining industry by: (1) legalizing small‐scale mining and implementing sector‐specific legislation; (2) contributing to community development and providing increased economic support; and (3) providing training and educational assistance, and playing an expanded role in the dissemination and transfer of important technologies.