(pradd) – liberia - Land Tenure and Property Rights Portal

5.0 POLICY REFORMS5.1 DEVELOP AN ARTISANAL DIAMOND MINING POLICYThe Mineral Policy (2010) summarizes the most important international principles to guide mineraldevelopment in Liberia, with a strong emphasis on sustainability. However, the focus is mainly on large-scalemining projects. The Cabinet, in collaboration with the MLME and DPD, should develop an ArtisanalDiamond Mining Policy that is consistent with the principles of the Mineral Policy, but which addresses theunique challenges and characteristics of ADM realities. There are major differences between large-scalemining operations and ASM. Artisanal miners face multifaceted challenges, and have different rights andobligations from large-scale operations. The Mineral Policy identifies some benefits and challenges of theartisanal sector, but it does not provide solutions to them. As a first step towards formalization of the ADMsector, a long-term policy vision and clear strategy is necessary to guide its development. This strategy has tobe captured in an Artisanal Diamond Mining Policy.“Sustainability” means that limited resources must be managed in a way that will promote long-termgrowth and well-being for ASDM and their communities, but also to provide for the needs of the nextgeneration.ASDM can only contribute to the Mineral Policy’s vision as a driver for economic growth and sustainabledevelopment if a focused, but integrated approach is followed. The challenge is to integrate economicdevelopment with environmental integrity and effective governance to address pressing social anddevelopment needs.Conflict often occurs between ASDMs, their communities, and other larger mining companies orconcessionaires. It is also in these companies’ interest that ASDM becomes formalized as several groupscompete for resources in the same environment. In response to growing social pressure to consider thebroader impact of mining, the international industrial mining sector has created a “sustainability threshold”which is held as a “best practice” model. 13 Some of the steps have direct impact on ASDMs and their rightswhen they compete for resources, while some can serve to guide GOL in shaping the policy framework forASDM. It also informs the rest of the discussion and recommendations.Mining, Minerals, and Sustainable Development Principles:• Engagement: Are communities part of the negotiation process?• People: Will the well-being of impacted communities be maintained or improved?• Environment: Is the integrity of the environment ensured over the long term?• Economic viability: Is the project or operation economically viable, and will the communitybe better off as a result of the project in the long term?• Traditional and nonmarket activities: Are livelihood potentials, such as hunting, going tobe adequately protected during the course of the project?• Institutional arrangements and governance: Are rules, incentives, programs, andcapacities in place to address project or operational consequences?• Synthesis and continuous learning: Does a comprehensive analysis show the netoutcome of the project to be positive, and will there be periodic assessments?13Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development North America. Seven Questions to Sustainability: How to assess the contribution of Miningand Minerals Activities. http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2002/mmsd_sevenquestions.pdfPRADD LIBERIA: A REVIEW OF THE LEGAL, REGULATORY AND POLICY FRAMEWORKGOVERNING ARTISANAL DIAMOND MINING IN LIBERIA 13