artisanal covers a/w 6/2/04 11:44 am Page 1 More than 13 million people in the South are directly engaged in small-scale mining – many of whom are women and children – with another 80 to 100 Artisanal andSmall-scaleMining million depending on it for some aspect of thei livelihood. These activities are often both illegal and environmentally damaging, and dangerous for Artisanal and workers and their communities. The illegality and lack of regulation often mean that improving the sector is difficult and many of the potential benefits are lost. This paper is an overview of the issues and challenges facing Small-Scale artisanal and small-scale mining stakeholders. Mining Challenges and Opportunities Thomas Hentschel,FelixHruschka,andMichaelPriester Thomas Hentschel, Felix Hruschka, and Michael Priester ISBN 1 84369 470 0 Projekt-Consult GmbH The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) is an independent, non-profit research institute working in the field of sustainable development. IIED aims to provide expertise and leadership in researching and achieving sustainable development at local, national, regional, and global levels. In alliance with others we seek to help shape a future that ends global poverty and delivers and sustains efficient and equitable management of the world's natural resources. IIED, 3 Endsleigh St, London WC1H 0DD, UK. Tel: +44 20 7388 2117 Fax: +44 20 7388 2826 Email:
[email protected] www.iied.org artisanal covers a/w 6/2/04 11:44 am Page 2 Breaking New Ground is the final report of the Mining, Minerals, and Sustainable Development Project (MMSD), an IIED publishes on a wide range of independent two-year process of sustainable development topics, from natural consultation and research that aimed to resources management to urbanization.