Gabon Case Study Report
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WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS RESPONSIBLE ARTISANAL AND SMALL SCALE MINING REPORT JULY 2012 ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING IN AND AROUND PROTECTED AREAS AND CRITICAL ECOSYSTEMS PROJECT (ASM-PACE) GaBON CaSE STUDY REPORT A Situational Analysis of ASM in Protected Areas and Critical Ecosystems and Recommendations for Gabonese Policymakers to Attain Ecologically and Socio-Economically Responsive Artisanal and Small-scale Mining FINAL REPORT BY MICHA HOLLESTELLE JULY 2012 The aim of ASM-PACE is to address the environmental impacts of artisanal and small- Authorship and Acknowledgements scale mining (ASM) whilst building on its economic, social, and empowerment potential in This report was written by Micha Hollestelle some of the world’s most important ecosystems. The project uses a scientific foundation of of ZAGA Consulting and working under the knowledge, participatory methods and rights-based approaches to work with miners and auspices of Estelle Levin Ltd. This report features research, writing, and analytical their communities – rather than in opposition – to design sustainable, win-win solutions contributions from Kirsten Hund, Felix that will last. The project is focused exclusively on ASM occurring in and around protected Hruschka, Estelle Levin, and Cristina areas and priority ecosystems. For more information please visit www.asm-pace.org. Villegas. Findings presented include insights from both desk and field research Estelle Levin Ltd. is a boutique development consultancy specialising in natural all conducted in Gabon. The desk research resources governance and sustainable supply chains. Much of its work is in the extractives was executed by Micha Hollestelle from June 2011 up to April 2012. The field research was sector, on behalf of clients like development agencies, NGOs, mining companies, conducted in September and October 2011 consultancies, industry associations, and end-users like jewellers. Working individually by Hollestelle and a field research team; or by bringing in the relevant expertise, we help organisations mobilise natural the report features research contributions resources in ways that achieve their development and commercial ambitions whilst from WWF CARPO staff members Eric ensuring empowerment and ecological protection; development through sustainability & Obame, Jean Noel Okogo, Serge Nguema & Gustave Mabaza, ANPN staff members Jean sustainability through development. Contact Estelle Levin at [email protected]. Jerome Ovondo & Jacques Nkoghe, and Ruby WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to Weinberg of Estelle Levin Ltd. WWF Gabon provided logistical support as well as the build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s expert GIS and mapping found in this report. biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, The research approach was designed by and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Micha Hollestelle in consultation with Estelle Levin, Dr Jennifer Hinton and Kirsten Hund ASM-PACE is coordinated through WWF’s Central Africa Regional Programme Office and in consultation with the research team. (WWF-CARPO), which is the largest program office of WWF International. For more than The report was edited by Cristina Villegas of 20 years, WWF and its partners have been working throughout the Congo Basin region to: Estelle Levin Ltd. The author can be contacted at • Create a network of protected areas to conserve biodiversity [email protected] • Encourage logging and mining companies to promote good management practices Acknowledgements • Promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and The author would like to thank the following degradation of forests people and institutions who kindly shared their time, resources and knowledge: the • Support sustainable business practices and financial investments in development people from Longo and Ndangui who so and infrastructure projects kindly hosted us and shared their knowledge with us; all support staff of WWF Gabon for • Improve the livelihoods of indigenous and local peoples their capable facilitation; Pauwel de Wachter, • Reduce wildlife poaching and the bushmeat trade Sebastiaan Verhage, Bède Moussavou (all WWF Gabon), Kirsten Hund (WWF Central • For more information, please visit www.panda.org Africa Regional Programme Office), Paul Siegel (WWF West Africa), Mr. Bivequé (SAT WWF has had a presence in Gabon for over 20 years. WWF activities in Gabon are Minintère de Mines Gabon), Mr Laroche part of its Green Heart of Africa (GHOA) initiative; which aims to ensure that the (former director SOGAREM Gabon), who have unique forest, freshwater landscapes and species resources in the Green Heart of Africa provided much needed background papers, are managed sustainably so that biodiversity is conserved, ecosystem functions and maps, insights and additional support. Thank services are maintained, global climate is stabilized, and sustainable development and you also to SEEF Gabon, for making available lodging for one night; a welcome shelter economic growth secure the livelihoods of the people of Central Africa. Part of the between tented bush stayovers. Thank you GHOA initiative,the extractive industries (oil & mining) programme commenced in 2009 also to Mohamed Bada. and envisions being part of the development of a responsible mining sector, following a Front cover image: © Cristina Villegas philosophy of integrated land-use management in line with the other activities of WWF in Published in July 2012 by WWF-World Wide the region. One of the first strategic objectives of this programme is the promotion of an Fund for Nature (formerly World Wildlife integrated management and good governance of natural resources. For more information, Fund) and Estelle Levin, Ltd. please visit www.panda.org Any reproduction in full or in part must mention the title and credit the above- mentioned publisher as the copyright owner. For more information, please visit our website at www.asm-pace.org, or contact: © Estelle Levin Limited and WWF. Kirsten Hund Estelle Levin Programme Coordinator, ASM-PACE Technical Director, ASM-PACE Director, ASM-PACE is generously funded by the Regional Advisor Extractive Industries, Estelle Levin Limited UK World Bank’s Program on Forests (PROFOR), The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, WWF Central Africa (WWF-CARPO) Tel : +447876743587 [email protected] WWF-Netherlands, WWF-USA, Tel: +241 07223759 [email protected] WWF-Democratic Republic of Congo and the capable technical support of WWF-Central Africa. This report is prepared from sources and data which ASM-PACE believes to be reliable, but ASM-PACE makes no representation as to its accuracy or completeness. This report is provided for informational purposes and is not to be construed as providing endorsements, representations or warranties of any kind whatsoever. WWF and Estelle Levin Ltd. accept no liability for any consequences whatsoever of pursuing any of the recommendations provided in this report, either singularly or altogether. Opinions and information provided are made as of the date of issue of the report and are subject to change without notice. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views of any of the ASM-PACE Programme funders. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................................... 1 GLOSSARY ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................... 5 2. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................20 3. METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................................21 3.1 Research questions ...........................................................................................................................21 3.2 Research process .............................................................................................................................21 3.3 Site selection ..................................................................................................................................22 3.4 Methods used and data sources..............................................................................................................23 3.4.1 Primary data: research missions, documents and resource persons ........................................................... 23 3.4.2 Acknowledgements on secondary data .................................................................................................... 24 3.5 Research challenges ..........................................................................................................................25 3.6 Intended next steps: Building a roadmap for ESER-ASM in Gabon .........................................................................25 4. ASM AND CONSERVATION IN GABON ...........................................................................................................26 4.1 ASM: A brief background .....................................................................................................................26