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

亚马逊雨林正处于一个“临界点”，在这个临界点上，它将变成一个类似大草原的生态系统。然而，它也是巴西新一轮淘金热的竞技场，通过砍伐森林、土壤侵蚀和河流污染，加剧了雨林的退化。这是由有利的政治时刻推动的，包括环境立法的放松，负责控制采矿活动的政府机构的撤资，以及博尔索纳罗总统自己支持金矿开采的言论。此外，高失业率和金价上涨迫使成千上万的工人前往亚马逊盆地谋生。据估计，亚马逊地区约有16万名金矿工人，其中许多人在土著土地和保护单位非法作业。除了对环境的影响，手工采金业还通过汞中毒对人类构成威胁，同时还与针对土著社区的暴力、性剥削和奴隶般的工作条件有关。而且，它被证明是腐败、欺诈、洗钱等金融犯罪的沃土。尽管如此，民间社会和学术界仍在就小规模手工采金业的法律的可持续模式的前景进行辩论，这种模式可以发展当地社区，创造就业机会，推动经济向前发展。这些辩论主要围绕三个要素展开：一、手工和小规模采金业的合法性/正规化;二、土著土地和保护单位的保护;三、黄金加工中使用的剧毒汞的替代品-如《水俣公约》所要求的那样。然而，在讨论可持续的手工和小规模采金业时，很少注意到其他消极方面，如土壤侵蚀、河流污染以及直接参与手工和小规模采金业的人的观点。通过倾听参与手工和小规模采金业的人们的意见，这种以人为本的方法希望能够照亮手工和小规模采金业以前未探索的方面，将人类的经验带到研究的最前沿。因此，考虑到将手工金矿开采转变为促进亚马逊地区可持续发展的活动的前景，我问：手工和小规模采金业的可持续模式将如何解决与传统金矿开采有关的问题，它将如何影响当地社区和工人？为此，规定了以下具体目标：1.调查可持续小规模采金业的实例及其在已试行的地区的后果;2.了解其对亚马逊河自然环境的影响;3。分析从事个体和小规模采金业的工人的福利;4.审查可持续的手工和小规模采金业如何影响土著和传统社区;5.探讨通过手工和小规模采金业在地方和国家层面实现可持续发展的可能性及其为实现联合国17项可持续发展目标做出贡献的潜力。MethodologyI将首先进行一次彻底的文件审查，以获取当前对（不）可持续手工和小规模采金业的理解，并将其置于亚马逊环境中。在实地工作期间，将与非政府组织、联邦机构、土著社区和金矿工人进行半结构化访谈。这些利益攸关方访谈是该项目以人为本和自下而上方法的关键，增加了他们自己的观点和与小规模手工采金业的联系。数据收集和分析的方法论方法以训研所关于“社会经济小规模采金业研究方法”（2018年）的建议为基础。该研究项目与巴西研究机构Plataforma CIPOstrial合作，该研究机构致力于气候变化，全球治理和建设和平问题。除了海外实地考察外，还需要进行困难的语言培训。

ContextThe 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 / QuestionI 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.MethodologyI 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.