Abstract

Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) provides livelihoods for millions but generates serious social and environmental harms. This abstract reframes ASM as a potential fair-trade pathway: One that secures decent incomes, protects health and restores ecosystems while aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It highlights concrete case studies that illustrate how targeted interventions-savings schemes, women-led enterprise models and collaborative agreements between large and small miners-can transform ASM from an informal survival strategy into a regulated, sustainable sector. The core argument is that legalization, professionalization and multi-stakeholder governance, combined with nature-based restoration after mine closure, can reconcile poverty reduction with environmental stewardship. Thinking about the goals of Agenda 2030 we are facing a Hamlet’s dilemma, how can we support these families to reach goals like “No poverty “, “Good Health and Wellbeing”, “Decent Work and Economic Growth”?

From the Oxford Dictionary the meaning of “Fair Trade” is:
A system of trading with a developing country in which a good price is paid for their exports, and the people who produce the goods have good working conditions and are paid a fair wage:
a. The benefits of fair trade must reach the poorest communities.
b. The use of child labour goes completely against fair trade principles.

Artisanal And Small-Scale Mining (ASM) is based on extracting minerals for communications, construction, agriculture activity and clean technologies, or gemstones along alluvial deposits using non-technological tools. This activity typically requires low capital investment and employs highly labour-intensive technology. It often occurs in remote locations, and it has considered the foremost nonfarm income in rural areas like Africa, Asia and South America. Unfortunately, ASM development is still in its infancy, despite investments for about 50 years by many international organisations. Awareness of ASM role of in contributing to mineral extraction and facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy, among other aspects, is of primary importance. It is essential to assess how ASM should evolve and how its potential can be maximised. ASM offers advantages such as low capital intensity and flexibility in responding to market dynamics, particularly price fluctuations. However, ASM also entails economic, social, environmental and ecological implications. Environmental concerns, in particular, impact the quality of life and health of mine workers, local residents, neighbouring communities and future generations.

This activity supports very poor families where short opportunities and diffuse poverty affect the countries; poverty alleviation could be reached if this activity is carried out according to the laws. In particular, SDGs (1 No poverty, 3 Good Health and Well-being, 5 Gender equality, 6 Clean Water and Sanitization, 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, 10 Reduced Inequalities, 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, 13 Climate Action, 14 Life below Water, 15 Life on Land) might be a guide for a legitimate and sustainable policy for the development of the natural resources, considering the environmental impact too and the opportunity in remediating the area following the Nature-based Solutions (NbSs). The SDGs are key points to develop a policy to support social issues and the well-being of people while preserving biodiversity and respecting the environment.

While it is true that ASM creates jobs and supports many families, improving their quality of life, one must ask: at what cost? What about the mine workers’ health? What about the quality of life of people living close to that area? What are the risks and the legacies for future generations? Three pillars are fundamental when ASM is studied: Environmental stewardship, occupational health and domestic revenue mobilisation. The suggestions to support the complementarity between international markets and the purpose of professionalising this sector to reach a better development is supported by the World Bank whose goal is a world with no poverty on a liveable planet. The World Bank prompts in this direction with time and using resources for trust. The most critical point is to reduce the risk for mineworkers, people living in the same area and the environment, so social impact and environment are the two fundamental points to make ASM a legal and regulated activity. A successful and proper action is to think of a multi-stakeholder approach such as technical, scientific, legal and socio-economic aspects for a correct ASM evaluation. Each stakeholder should support ASM activity and the reduction of its environmental impacts following the SDGs goals. How ASM could become a sustainable choice to ameliorate life quality for someone and how ASM could be defined as a sustainable choice after the closure of the environment.