Research: Difference between revisions

The mining industry has always played an important role in Ghana´s development. Since the regularization of 1989 when the first legal framework for registration of small-scale gold and diamond mines, mineral production and sales was established in the country, the sector has produced and sold around 1.5 million troy ounces of gold and 8.0 million carats of diamonds. The production of minerals has often been at the cost of local environment and has produced a negative impact on society. In order to make the industry more sustainable, the integration of the three pillars of sustainable development is required. Nevertheless, there are still difficulties in stakeholder dialogue about this issue as the interests of stakeholders are so different <ref>(AMANKWA, ANIM-SACKE 2002: 1)</ref>.  

== Are Research Institutions really partner for dialogue about long term visions? ==

Research Institutions like International Institute for Environmental and Development (IIED), established in 1999, Mining and Energy Research Network (MERN) and other groups active in the region play an important role in the stakeholder´s dialogue about long term visions of development. They develop an institutional framework for the different groups in order to cover in the best way all interests and lead the industry toward sustainability. One of the MERN studies shows us that the environmental performance of a company relates more to the "capacity to innovate than to the regulatory regime under which it operates" <ref name= Warhurst> Warhurst A.(ed)(1998): Mining and Environment Case Stidies from the AmericasAvailable from http://web.idrc.ca/en/ev-9341-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html (Access on 08.01.2012).</ref>.  

The aims of the institutional framework are to establish the satisfactory voluntary standards and to identify instruments that will help to make services of mining companies more sustainable. Beside this it is very important to create platforms of analysis, communication and engagement among all stakeholders in the sector to be able to mitigate the negative effects of small-scale gold and diamond mining. Another task of the Research Institutions is to advise key elements due to which the systems of mineral extraction can be improved and therefore to find terms of transition to sustainable development <ref>(MMSD 2002: 15)</ref>.  

== Role of Research Institutions in the Stakeholders´ dialogue ==

The Research Institutions play an important role of the mediator between varieties of stakeholders’ interests. Especially when there is an urge need to combine the economic growth of the region as primary aim with interest in higher standards of performance and avoiding damage in sensitive ecological and cultural areas. Local communities expect positive changes—employment, infrastructure—after the start of the projects and moreover they expect companies to respect their rights. Research institutions can help to solve this, since the environmental performance of a company is often in a function with its efficiency. The aim of effectively usually results in quest for environmental achievements at no extra cost <ref name= Warhurst ></ref>. Also other positive externalities could be identified by research as the employees are interested in safer and healthier work conditions and safety when the employment ends. And as consumers they demand safe products produced according to environmental and social standards. How it is possible to combine all wishes so in the end everybody is satisfied? Policy should aim to promote environmental innovation and the innovative capacity in the sector  <ref name=Warhurst> </ref>(p.21).

Some of these plans are already present in the UNCED Agenda 21 and are also reflected in the formation of International Council on Metals and the Environment (ICME) <ref name=Warhurst> </ref>(p.25).

The scientific field of mining industry can be employed in different ways. In particular the sustainable perspective will win if slightly re-focuses its subject of exploration. There is a variety of solutions from sustainable perspective which should be adopted on these three levels: Local, National and Global. On the local level the industry shall provide jobs, directly as well as indirectly to aid in the developing of the national economy. Democratic procedures of decision-making process as community engagement, integrated impact assessment or community sustainable plan shall be taken. In order to provide transparency and to decrease informational asymmetry the government shall provide access to information for all society groups and encourage public participation. Beside this land rights regimes and compensation systems shall be developed to maximize the benefits of mineral development. Research institutions must distinguish between small scale mining and large scale mining in their policy proposals <ref> Hentschel T, Nruschka F, Priester F.(2002): GLOBAL REPORT ON ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING. Working Paper 70, Mining, Minerals and sustainable Development (MMSD) Project, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).</ref>.