1. CASM 2006 November 11-15, 2006 Antsirabe MADAGASCAR
THEMATIC WORKING GROUP # 1
Chair: Lalalison RAZAFINTSALAMA
Finding innovative solutions to conflicts and encroachment of ASM into conservation and protected areas

2. WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS SESSION?
In many parts of the world there are real conflicts between ASM and conservation areas
We therefore need to know why this is the case
Based on the above, we can better recommend CASM actions

3. KEY QUESTIONS
THE THREATS: What are the key problems issues, risks and hot spots?
OPPORTUNITIES: What ASM could bring to development and protected areas
SUCCESSES: What can we learn already?
CASM recommendations: What actions should we encourage CASM to undertake to seek progress and solutions?

4. THE THREATS: What are the key problems issues, risks and hot spots in prospective protected areas?
Why a conflict? – Development is banned by law in Protected Areas!
We need to consider not just Madagascar –but other countries.
Distinguish between:
A) threats to protected areas and
B) Prospective areas
Recognize two types of ASM
Communities
Migrants

5. THE THREATS: What are the key problems, issues, risks and hot spots relating to existing protected areas?
Occurs in many countries due to poor response and effective enforcement.
Government, especially at local level, cannot respond fast enough to rapid invasion after discovery of minerals.
Strong incentive to encroach on the area because it is highly mineralized (security point not captured)

6. THE THREATS: What are the key problems, issues, risks and hot spots relating to existing protected areas?
Government not sufficiently decentralized.
Mayors can make a lot of profit in a short period before action is taken.
Artisanal mining is not seen as a major threat – except when there are rushes.
Madagascar has wide distribution of minerals
Very weak administration without the means to control problems across the country

7. THE THREATS: What are the key problems, issues, risks and hot spots relating to existing protected areas?
Local leaders can be coerced to ‘turn a blind eye’.
Migrant miners do not recognise local leaders.
Although evicted, miners return because they have ‘no alternative’.
Miners prefer to remain unregulated and untaxed.

8. TO: Where has some success been achieved in addressing them?
Good example of Durban Process – protecting biodiversity (Gorillas) combining mining and alternative livelihoods.
Philippines – has policies for indigenous mining (rights for local people).
Ghana – has a ministry responsible for ASM

9. OPPORTUNITIES: What ASM could bring to development and protected areas?
Encourage miners to move to areas with lower biodiversity
Government has chosen mayors to enforce the law – but evidence so far is that this is not working because majors want to be re-elected.
Government should build capacity in protected areas to discourage illegal mining.

10. OPPORTUNITIES: What ASM could bring to development and protected areas?
Educate local chiefs to demonstrate the benefits of sustaining protected areas.
Sensitize local communities.
Encourage large scale miners to link up with ASM (but has not worked so far).
Use geological mapping to identify low-risk areas.
Can we create associations of small-scale miners who can build capacity in the sector?

11. OPPORTUNITIES: What ASM could bring to development and protected areas?
Is the Governments’ goal to double protected area too much of a challenge and compatible with promoting economic development?
Answer must lie in multi-sectoral approach.
Organize purchasing and marketing minerals so that illegal workers (and financiers) find it harder to sell products mined from protected areas.

12. OPPORTUNITIES: What ASM could bring to development and protected areas?
Ensure there are alternative sources of employment.
Scope for rehabilitating former forest areas?
Can taxes be used as incentives? Minimize taxes - regulations in approved areas.
Undertake awareness raising within local authorities.
Improve security in western area and this will make it easier to safeguard protected areas.

13. OPPORTUNITIES: What ASM could bring to development and protected areas?
People who have ‘rushed’ to protected areas must be provided with alternative activities. Individuals will only enter formal sector when it offers better conditions than the ‘informal’ sector.

14. SUCCESSES: What can we learn already?

15. What actions should we encourage CASM to undertake in the search for progress?

16. ADDITIONAL POINTS