As part of the ASM-PACE Programme’s mission of engagement, sharing and dialogue around the issue of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Protected Areas and Critical Ecosystems, Levin Sources, in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), hosted two ASM-PACE Roundtables in Washington D.C. and London. These events were convened with the intention of sharing the research led by Levin Sources, WWF and Fauna and Flora International (FFI) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gabon, Liberia and Madagascar, as well as the results of ASM-PACE’s Global Solutions Study. The events were designed to garner feedback from interested stakeholders and to solicit interest and direction for the next iteration of the programme.
Levin Sources convened over 50 stakeholders including development experts, conservation organisations, ASM specialists, and representatives from the industrial mining sector. WWF-US and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) hosted the meetings in Washington D.C and London respectively. Over two years of research into the issue in over 25 countries was synthesised and presented to the audience. The dialogue facilitated by ELL brought debate, interest and new ideas to the topic.
In conceptualizing and delivering these events and presenting the ASM-PACE research, Levin Sources has established a community of practice and a platform for discussion around the challenges and potential solutions for addressing the issue of ASM in PACE. Furthermore, Levin Sources has created a call for action and new management strategies for tackling the issue on a local level. Lastly, Levin Sources created a shared understanding amongst funders, policymakers, conservationists, and those that support ASM communities.
Click here for information on the ASM-PACE programme.
