APFED Booklet on Good Practices and Innovative Activities 2005 ...

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Mongolia
2008
Livelihood Improvement of Informal Gold Miners
in Zaamar Goldfield
2009
Project Site Location Tov Aimag, Zaamar Soum
2006 2007 2008
2005
Background - Problems Addressed and Policy Responses
Drought, snow storms and pasture degradation have
undermined rural herder livelihoods, resulting in artisanal
mining. The number of these miners-known locally as
ninja, a Japanese term referring to medieval warriors - has
reached 100,000. They work in harsh conditions with no land
entitlement or health insurance, and are regularly exposed to
toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide.
Artisanal and small scale miners called
“Ninja”
Project Outline - Objectives and Activities
The project is intended to improve the safety and livelihoods of artisanal and small-scale miners, including
youth, women and children. Activities were undertaken to (i) provide information and training on the
risks involved in mining, (ii) train on proper storage and management of toxic chemicals, (iii) inform of
alternative livelihood opportunities, (iv) develop a database on wildlife and the environment, and (v)
promote policy dialogue towards amendment of the mining law and to legislate rights and obligations of
artisanal miners.
Impacts and Achievements
A survey was conducted on the artisanal miner households and the local environment; Training sessions
were conducted on artisanal miners regarding the safety measures and proper mining methods to prevent
accidents and exposure to toxic chemicals; A mining law amendment recognising the rights and obligations
of artisanal minders was drafted and heard at the parliament, then promulgated in July 2010 - artisanal
miners and their communities are now organised to promote safe, environmentally-sound and sustainable
mining; Training was provided on alternative livelihoods and scholarships for youth, and a database on
local wildlife, environment and sustainable mining was developed.
Future Challenges
Compliance monitoring and enforcement measures need to be strengthened on safety measures and
management of toxic chemicals; Mechanisms need to be built to reduce detrimental environmental
impacts caused by excavated soil; Measures need to be enhanced in the treatment of effluent and
wastewater from washing soil; Multi-stakeholder dialogues need to be facilitated on environmental
management and mineral resources to ensure long-term equity and sustainability, and benefit-sharing
mechanisms need to be pursued among miners and local non-mining communities.
General Information
Name of the Implementing Organisation: Mongolian Nature and Environment Consortium
Type of Organisation: NGO/CBO, Governmental Research Institute
Contact: M. Badarch
Mongolian Nature and Environment Consortium, 11th district, Sukhbaatar duureg, XI khoroolol,
Erkhuu Street 7, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Tel: (976) 99-19- 9276 (Cellular) Fax: (976) 11354272
E-mail: mnec8@yahoo.com / mnec@magicnet.mn
Project Reviewer (NetRes / Collaborators) that monitors the project:
Masanori Kobayashi, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
E-mail: m-kobayashi@iges.or.jp
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