At the end of May WWF Guianas held a high level regional goldmining conference in Paramaribo, Suriname. Topics in the -small scale- goldmining sector are important throughout the Amazone, because of the social and environmental issues involved. Experts from Brazil, French Guyana, Guyana and Suriname discussed the current status of small scale gold mining in the four countries.
The Ministry of Natural Resources of Suriname co-hosted the conference.
Without regional cooperation in the Amazone region the issues in the small scall gold mining sector can not be solved. An applauded first step was therefore made by signing a cooperation between mining syndicates from Brazil, Guyana and French Guiana and a Surinamese company.
Dominiek Plouvier, Regional Representative of WWF Guianas : ‘ As the organizations of miners in the Guianas and Brazil have signed an agreement to exchange information and work more regionally, it is now up to the Governments of the Guianas and the wider Amazon to come together and tackle this issue. WWF Guianas will continue to work as on small scale gold-mining in the region, in order to make it more responsible and less environmentally and socially damaging.
Conclusions of the Conference
· Because of the exponentially rising gold prices small scale gold mining will stay in the region.
· As will its environmental impact, which has risen exponentially as well. Satellite images show a more than threefold deforestation in the last decade; and almost half of the Guiana rivers and creeks are now polluted with mercury.
· One part of the solutions should be sought in a Chain of Custody and market approach; where the market should also become aware of its responsibility of buying Fair Trade gold. So far, France and French Guiana have taken the lead in the WWF network.
· Regional high level cooperation is imperative; for example strict legislation and control in Brazil and French Guiana has illegal goldminers fleeing to Suriname and Guyana. Prices and taxes are more favorable in Suriname than Guyana, which makes this country the number 1 choice for illegal gold smuggling.
Click here for the Proceedings in pdf format (File size 15MB).
Click here for the Proceedings in pdf format (File size 15MB).