Abstract

ZAMORA ECHENIQUE, Gerardo; TRUJILLO L, Elvis  and  LLANQUE C, Milan. Propuesta para el desarrollo sustentable de la pequeña minería en Bolivia. REV. MAMYM [online]. 2017, n.3, pp.3-15. ISSN 2519-5352.

Abstract In the mining field, one of the greatest challenges faced by the world today is the integration of economic activity with environmental preservation, social concerns and efficient governance systems. The achievement of this integration can be called "sustainable development" and its durability over time. So far there is no widely accepted definition referring to "small mining"; however, the consideration of such mining activities under the name of "Artisanal and Small Scale Mining - MAPE" has coincided worldwide. In Bolivia, there is data on a labor force in the ASM of about 72,000 people involved; of which, 54% are involved in the exploitation of base minerals and 45% in the explo itation of gold, reaching 27% of the mining productive proportion. The mining productionof the BolivianMAPE reaches: 12 tons of gold; 433 tons of silver; 149 tons of zinc and 12 tons of tin (data with reference prior to the inclusion of about 5,000 cooperative members in Huanuni tin mining company). The numerous environmental impacts caused by the ASM in Bolivia are perhaps the main concern of many analysts in the mining sector; which are summarized in: Pollution with mercury and cyanide; direct elimination of tailings and effluents in rivers; dangers due to badly constructed tailings dams; damage to rivers in alluvial areas; rivers converted into silts; damage by erosion and deforestation; and finally, destruction of the landscape. In general, the lack of success of the Bolivian government to environmentally control the activities of the ASMM is partly due to the fact that the regulatory frameworks tend to simply control, without offering many obvious benefits or incentives for the miners. Artisanal and small-scale miners will only formalize and register operations if they see that they achieve certain real advantages in doing so. To incorporate the MAPE into national environmental protection programs, it is necessary to implement joint ALBAs (Baseline Studies), as an initial measure; they should be definitely addressed under the responsibility of the state; to then, incorporate the principle of "Clean Technologies" in their processes, as a second step. To do this, it requires technical and technological support appropriate to the ASM, as a priority task of the state, which also requires support for the development of scientific and technological research in two priority research areas: 1.  Clean technologies applicable to the exploitation and processing of base minerals and others in the sector of artisanal mining and small-scale mining 2.  Clean technologies applicable to the exploitation and processing of gold in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector

Keywords : small-scale mining; sustainable development; Bolivia.

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