IGF GUÍA PARA GOBIERNOS: GESTIÓN DE LA MINERÍA ARTESANAL Y DE PEQUEÑA ESCALA

This guide provides a three-phase framework for governments in developing countries to manage artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). It outlines steps for establishing inter-ministerial working groups, analyzing the national ASM context, categorizing mining types to create tailored economic and environmental strategies, and implementing these strategies through state-sponsored support, regulation, and monitoring.

• The guide defines artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) as a diverse sector in developing countries, ranging from unregulated subsistence miners to formally constituted small commercial entities that produce minerals responsibly. The sector is characterized as both a significant source of livelihoods and a cause of environmental damage.
• Phase 1 of the management process focuses on preparation, requiring governments to establish an internal ASM working group with representatives from ministries including mining, land, finance, environment, planning, water, and labor. This phase also necessitates the creation of a consultation forum for stakeholders and a comprehensive context analysis covering the sector's scale, location, economy, techniques, impacts, and supply chain.
• Phase 2 involves developing a management strategy by first establishing a vision that classifies mining techniques as 'unacceptable, poor and good'. Governments are advised to categorize the ASM sector into types (e.g., by product, mechanization, scale, or whether it is alluvial or hard rock) to avoid imposing a single strategy on a heterogeneous sector.
• The management strategy for each ASM type must include an economic approach to explore potential and a mitigation approach to address impacts. Economic instruments may include land allocation, supply chain initiatives, and technical assistance, while mitigation may involve licensing, regulation, and education to move the sector toward practices that protect human rights and the environment.
• Phase 3 focuses on implementation and monitoring. This requires an execution plan with defined budgets, timelines, and responsible departments, and may involve revising legal frameworks. Implementation actions can include state-sponsored mineral purchase regimes, providing geological data, subsidizing clean processing plants, and providing infrastructure such as water, sanitation, and electricity.

APA

Crawford, A. (2014). IGF GUÍA PARA GOBIERNOS: GESTIÓN DE LA MINERÍA ARTESANAL Y DE PEQUEÑA ESCALA. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/igf-guidance-for-governments-asm-brief-es.pdf

Chicago

Crawford, Alec. IGF GUÍA PARA GOBIERNOS: GESTIÓN DE LA MINERÍA ARTESANAL Y DE PEQUEÑA ESCALA. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2014. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/igf-guidance-for-governments-asm-brief-es.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Crawford |first1=Alec |title=IGF GUÍA PARA GOBIERNOS: GESTIÓN DE LA MINERÍA ARTESANAL Y DE PEQUEÑA ESCALA |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2014 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/igf-guidance-for-governments-asm-brief-es.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{crawford2014igf, author = {Crawford, Alec}, title = {{IGF GUÍA PARA GOBIERNOS: GESTIÓN DE LA MINERÍA ARTESANAL Y DE PEQUEÑA ESCALA}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2014}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/igf-guidance-for-governments-asm-brief-es.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }