Participatory environmental monitoring committees can significantly contribute to environmental and human rights protection in mining operations, points out a new report by UNDP, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute.
Presenting results of simultaneous investigations about the work of nine participatory environmental monitoring committees operating in Argentina, Bolivia, Panama and Peru, the new report explains that the committees have helped companies in finding improved ways of doing business, engaging more effectively with communities, and implementing new ways of reducing pollution and other potentially negative effects on communities.
The monitoring efforts by some committees have, for instance, identified pollution present in food sources and its impact on health, looking at ways to mitigate these effects. Some committees have also improved the way mining companies and the community are carrying out environmental management by identifying possible contamination sources.
In-depth investigations and interviews were conducted in four Latin American countries, covering nine participatory environmental monitoring committees:
Argentina
- Community System for Transparency, Bajo Alumbrera Mine
- Environmental Monitors in the Salar de Olaroz, Olaroz project
Bolivia
- Mining and Environmental Secretariat of District III, Tupiza Municipality, Mines with Impact on Basins of the Rivers San Juan del Oro and Tupiza
- Committee for the Defence of the Environment in Colquechaca, Macha and Pocoata Basin, Colquecha and Pocoata Municipalities, Mines of Colquechaca, Macha and Pocoata Basin
Panama
- Participatory Environmental Monitoring in Chilibre, CEMEX Mining Company
- Defenders of Water Resources in Donoso, Cobre Panama Mine
Peru
- Participatory Environmental Monitoring Committee of Orcopampa, Orcopampa Mine
- Participatory Environmental Monitoring Committee of Mallay, Mallay Mine
- Unified Committee of the Caserío de Juprog, Chipta and Cinco Troncos, Antamina Project
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