Artisanal Gold Mining in the Amazon Basin: The Feasability of a Sustainable Extractivist Practice

Context
The Amazon rainforest is at a "tipping point", at which it would turn into a savannah-like ecosystem. Yet it is also the arena of a renewed gold rush in Brazil, aggravating the rainforest's degradation through deforestation, soil erosion and river contamination. This has been fueled by a favourable political moment, which entails the laxing of environmental legislation, divestment in governmental agencies in charge of controlling mining activities, and president Bolsonaro's own rhetoric in favour of gold mining. Additionally, high unemployment and the rising price of gold have driven thousands of workers to the Amazon basin hoping to make a living. It is estimated that there are around 160,000 gold miners in the Amazon region, many operating illegally on Indigenous Land and Conservation Units. Beyond the environmental impact, artisanal gold mining (ASGM) also poses a threat to humans through mercury poisoning, while also being linked to violence against indigenous communities, sexual exploitation, and slavery-like working conditions. Moreover, it is proven to be a fertile ground for financial crimes such as corruption, fraud, and money laundering.
Nonetheless, there is ongoing debate in civil society and academic circles about the prospect for a legal and sustainable model for ASGM that can develop local communities, create jobs, and propel the economy forward. Mostly, these debates circle around three elements: i- the legality/formalisation of ASGM, ii- the protection of Indigenous Land and Conservation Units, and iii- alternatives to the highly toxic mercury used in the processing of gold - as required by the Minamata convention. However, other negative aspects, such as soil erosion, river contamination, as well as the perspectives of the people directly involved in ASGM, receive little attention when discussing sustainable ASGM.
Objectives / Question
I propose to contribute to the literature with a holistic and inclusive approach to research that will place the human factor on centre stage. By listening to the people involved in ASGM, this human-centred approach hopes to shine a light on previously unexplored aspects of ASGM, bringing the human experience to the forefront of the research. Thus, considering the prospect of turning artisanal gold mining into an activity that promotes sustainable development in the Amazon region, I ask:
How would a sustainable model of ASGM address the problems linked to traditional gold mining and how would it affect local communities and the workers?
For this, the following specific objectives have been stipulated:
1. To investigate examples of sustainable ASGM and the aftereffect in regions where it has been tried;
2. To understand its impact on the amazonian natural environment;
3. To analyse the wellbeing of workers involved in ASGM;
4. To examine how sustainable ASGM affects indigenous and traditional communities;
5. To explore the possibilities for sustainable development through ASGM at the local and national levels and its potential to contribute to the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Methodology
I will initially carry out a thorough document review to capture current understandings of (un)sustainable ASGM and place it in the amazonian context. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted during fieldwork with NGOs, federal agencies, indigenous communities and the gold miners. These stakeholder interviews are key to the human centrality and bottom-up approach of this project, adding their own perspectives and association with ASGM. The methodological approach to data collection and analysis is underpinned by the recommendations made by UNITAR on "Socio-economic ASGM Research Methodology" (2018).
This research project is in collaboration with Plataforma CIPÓ, a Brazil-based research institute dedicated to issues of climate change, global governance and peacebuilding. In addition to overseas fieldwork, difficult language training will be required.