SITUATION ANALYSIS OF THE SMALL-SCALE GOLD ... - WWF

FRAME 7: LANDSCAPE DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY
LAND DREDGING
The subject is so controversial that the reform initiative should start with the legislative
branch. Efforts have to be made to involve the entire Suriname community in the process
of environmental policy making, and only when broad support is secured on a number of
basic principles (for example, „the polluter pays”), should these principles be used to
draft laws that will be debated in parliament. Saddling the minister with this chore is to
invite controversy. In order to survive politically most Ministers would simply dodge the
issues and avoid making decisions.
The environmental impacts associated with the various mining methods are so different
in kind, scale, and nature that specific regulations are needed for each sub-sector and type
of mining practiced in the sub-sector. To be sure, international standards are useful, but it
makes no sense to introduce them overnight. A phased introduction is needed over a
period of several years, involving extensive assistance schemes in the field. The
conditions in each mining region and zone are different, and unless consideration is given
to the constraints of implementing new environmental regulations in the various regions,
the desired outcomes will not be realized. Therefore, a systematic effort has to be
undertaken, involving persons with extensive experience in the Suriname gold mining
context, to develop feasible environmental regulations that be introduced step-by-step
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