CI plugging $640M to reduce deforestation, improve efficiency in gold mining

Nov 12, 2016 News

Conservation International Guyana (CI-Guyana) and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners

Vice-President of CI-Guyana, Dr David Singh

Association (GGDMA) have joined forces to launch a US$3.2M ($640M) project to improve the economic and environmental performance of the gold mining sector as part of the country’s green economy efforts.
According to CI-Guyana, this collaboration will aim to particularly support small- and medium-scale gold miners in adopting more efficient production technologies and practices at all stages of their operations and inform the development of public and private policies in the sector.
“Overall, the initiative seeks to reduce forest loss driven by mining by 25% below the level measured in 2013. The project will be guided by a Project Steering Committee comprising representation from CI-Guyana, the GGDMA, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), and the National Toshaos Council (NTC).”
CI-Guyana said that the GGDMA and the NTC will also be supported to enhance their capacity to properly represent their constituents and assist them in implementing improved natural resource management measures.
“These efforts build on already established commitments and efforts by the GGDMA to reduce deforestation associated with mining operations. Progress along these lines will assist Guyana in meeting its obligations under the Minamata Convention which is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury.”
The project will use a lesson-learning approach to inform and promote the adoption of natural resource management policies that reflect green growth principles.
“Working through a multi-stakeholder process, partners will facilitate evidence-based and collaborative decision-making to produce robust practical solutions and policy recommendations for the sector. Specifically, work will include testing combinations of environmentally-friendly high-productivity, low-cost technologies; and developing workable business models that enhance production efficiency, improve livelihoods, and reduce the area of forest cleared for operations and harmful emissions from production processes. Miners and communities will be supported through outreach, capacity-building and the provision of technical services.”
According to CI-Guyana, “…stakeholders have publicly recognized the ongoing significant contribution of mining to Guyana’s economic development; while proud of this recognition, the industry understands that it has to embrace new technologies and improved practices as it strives to further define its role within the newly emerging Green Economy model.”
The collaboration of industry, government, indigenous communities with Conservation International is one avenue for demonstrating how the sector can drive sustainable socio-economic growth while also meeting key environmental and social safeguards, says Hilbert Shields, representative of the GGDMA.
Vice-President of CI-Guyana, Dr David Singh, said that, “Greening the gold mining supply chain requires that we consider how we maximize the value of this non-renewable natural resource, how we minimize negative and maximise positive social impacts, whilst at the same time reduce the loss or degradation of our ecosystems.
This project brings together the insights, expertise and resources of the private sector, public sector and local communities throughout the entire supply chain and policy spectrum. Together we will develop solutions that will help Guyana’s gold to be internationally respected for its very low impact on natural capital and its strong positive social impacts on communities.”
Gold mining is a significant sector of Guyana’s economy. It accounted for an average of 15% of Guyana’s GDP over the five-year period from 2009 to 2014 and reportedly benefits an average of 18,000 households directly or indirectly.
Based on the results of the national Monitoring Reporting and Verification System, the sector also accounted for roughly 90% of forest lost over the same period, including 13,516 hectares of forest loss in 2013.
The sector has also recently come under greater scrutiny for health, safety and social issues.
This initiative is part of a five-year project, Addressing Drivers of Deforestation in Guyana and Peru, funded under the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation’s (Norad) Climate and Forest Initiative.
Founded in 1987, CI works in more than 30 countries on six continents and with 1,000+ partners for a healthy planet.

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