Engaging 'workforce' and 'water': towards more sustainable engagements around small-scale gold production in southern Peru.

Peru is the sixth largest producer of gold in the world (USGS 2017). At least 15% of Peruvian gold is produced through small-scale, informal operations – more than half of which are in located in the region of Puno. Mining is undoubtedly one of the most important livelihood activities in the region; yet it comes at a considerable socio-economic and socio-environmental cost. This project aims to address these issues by developing knowledge that will promote a more sustainable, more inclusive and socially just ASGM sector. We will achieve this aim by delivering on two objectives. Firstly, we will improve the co-creation of critical knowledge about the process of gold production, both in terms of how the activity is embedded in local communities (by focussing on 'workforce') and its impact on the surround environment (by focussing on 'water'). Knowledge will be co-created by academic and non-academic stakeholders so as to ensure that the work has practical as well as academic value. Secondly, we will develop a mechanism to ensure knowledge is effectively shared among all relevant stakeholders.

Keywords:LABOUR, WATER POLLUTION, NATURAL RESOURCES

Disciplines:Aquatic sciences, challenges and pollution not elsewhere classified, Ecological anthropology, Economic sociology, Radical and critical sociology, feminist studies

Project type:Collaboration project