News & Voices

Colombia, with the second-highest biodiversity in the world, has become the epicenter of global celebrations on World Environment Day today, which this year revolves around the protection of biodiversity. The country also finds itself ranked fourth in the world for mercury emissions, 94% of which are emitted by the small-scale mining sector. Read about the planetGOLD Colombia project's aim to eliminate and/or avert 20 tonnes of mercury from the environment.

As the top gold producer in Latin America, more than 250,000 artisanal miners and small-scale miners in Peru are deeply affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Although this labor force typically contributes up to 20% of the national gold production and has been in the process of being formalized, today it is very vulnerable. Thus, this pandemic makes evident the need for an inclusive policy that protects them and aims at transformating the sector.

Today as we observe International Day for Biological Diversity in the midst of a pandemic that has gravely impacted so many as well as the ecosystems on which we depend, the rallying cry to “Build Back Better” rings true for the ASGM sector, which has been disrupted by COVID-19 and, with the right support, has the potential to transition to more responsible and clean production methods that at the same time safeguard our planet`s biodiversity.

Staff with the planetGOLD project team in the Philippines report that as a result of the Enhanced Community Quarantine that has been imposed due to COVID-19, women in the small-scale mining town of Itogon are facing various livelihood and economic challenges, and there are indications that gender inequalities are now exacerbated. This article sheds light on the situation these women face, and recommends several responses to improve gender equality.

Artisanal gold prices in Burkina Faso are slowly moving back toward levels seen prior to COVID-19, according to the latest update from staff working on the planetGOLD project in the country. They also report that the prices of consumer products are stable and have returned to the same level as before COVID-19.

For many women miners who scavenge for gold among rocks discarded by larger mining operations, the outbreak of COVID-19 has threatened their ability to make ends meet each day. In hard-hit Ecuador, help arrived for these women and their families in the form of food and cleaning supplies financed by voluntary contributions by their fellow citizens.

planetGOLD Perú participó en dos talleres organizados por CITE Minería y Medio Ambiente de Madre de Dios. Estos fueron realizados el 13 y 20 de abril con la participación de 267 mineros artesanales, pequeños mineros y profesionales vinculados al sector

Guyana is still in the relatively early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the areas of focus for the planetGOLD project there have thus far not been impacted directly by the virus. However, confirmed cases in nearby areas close to indigenous communities is worrying. Our project team in Guyana reports that gold prices have increased, including at the local level, and that the mining sector has been declared an essential service. They also note that as oil prices collapse and the gold price is expected to rise further, this will likely drive an expansion in the country's ASGM sector.

Today as we mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we are confronting a pandemic that has reached every corner of the globe. Subsistence miners and other vulnerable groups in the countries where we work are the most deeply harmed by this virus and its economic consequences. The Global Environment Facility's Anil Sookdeo reminds us that making miners formalized workers with legal protections and mitigating environmental risks and biodiversity loss in mining areas are more important than ever.

In the midst of the COVID-19 quarantine, staying home presents a significant challenge for many people in Ecuador when they cannot afford to go without their regular income. In an act of solidarity, our partner project in Ecuador is coordinating a voluntary fundraising campaign to provide food and cleaning kits for 20 women miners and their families.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has disrupted the artisanal gold supply chain and broken the cash for gold income system that rural miners depend on in ASGM communities around the world, including in the Philippines. Despite stay at home orders, many small-scale miners are continuing to produce gold, but they are severely constrained by a lack of access to markets, buyers, processing supplies, and a limited workforce. Read more in this update from our team working on the planetGOLD Philippines project.

Authorities in Burkina Faso have implemented sweeping lockdown and quarantine measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures – along with the many international lockdowns now in place – have slowed or halted artisanal gold exploitation and significantly reduced the price artisanal miners receive for their gold. Read more in this update from Artisanal Gold Council staff, including team members working on the planetGOLD project in Burkina Faso.