MONITORING THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE GOLD MINING AREAS IN SURINAME. Donovan Bogor, M.Sc

Transcription

1 MONITORING THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE GOLD MINING AREAS IN SURINAME Donovan Bogor, M.Sc

2 Structure & Content 1. Basics What is The State of the Environment (SoE)? Why do we need to monitor SoE in Suriname? 2. Assessing the SoE Important environmental Indicators Common metrics Reporting essentials 3. Future activities of NIMOS and collaborations

3 Background SBB has produced a map of the forest impacted areas from small scale gold mining It is a basis to find out what the State of Environment of these areas is

4 The State of the Environment A general definition The condition of our Eco-systems, habitats, soil, water & air (& local communities) (GreenFacts, 2015)

5 The State of the Environment General Objectives 1. Knowing what s going on What has changed? How much has changed? What are the drivers of these changes (e.g. drivers of deforestation)? In what rate or trend does it change? What are the risks and implications of these changes? 2. Mitigate or improve Determine progress objectives (KPI s) through; Policy (governance) Legislation, ENFORCEMENT & JURISPRUDINCE Clear & SMART metrics 3. Produce a sound and broadly supported REPORTING SYSTEM

6 Why monitor the State of The Environment? 1. To look at the trend or characteristics of the Condition Is it progressing, regressing or unchanged? Has the rate changed during a certain period?

7 Why monitor the State of The Environment? 2. To enforce regulations Are the threshold values exceeded?

8 The State of the Environment of the gold mining areas in Suriname Popular, rigorous and obvious statements All surrounding waters have high concentrations of Mercury All surrounding waters are contaminated All species in the surrounding areas have died, including ecosystems and habitats Sedimentation destroyed and degraded the forest whereas hunting grounds are all gone Illegal gold mining is the main driver for deforestation The impacted areas will not regenerate to it s previous conditions Etc.

9 The State of the Environment of the gold mining areas in Suriname Popular, rigorous and obvious statements All surrounding waters have high concentrations of Mercury 1. If so, how high?; 2. Is it homogenous everywhere?; 3. Is it all anthropogenic or natural? All surrounding waters are contaminated 1. How contaminated and with what?; 2. How much does the chemical and physical condition deviate from the original or background conditions?; All species in the surrounding areas have died, including ecosystems and habitats 1. What kind of flora and fauna where there previously?; 2. Are these species endemic or just migrated?; Sedimentation destroyed and degraded the forest whereas hunting grounds are all gone 1. How much of the elevation has changed?; 2. Is there a risk for further sedimentation and loss of land?;

10 The State of the Environment of the gold mining areas in Suriname Illegal gold mining is the main driver for deforestation 1. What is the rate of deforestation of gold mining compared to urbanization or other drivers?; 2. Is the nature of deforestation the same as the other drivers?; The impacted areas will not regenerate to it s previous conditions 1. If so what is the soil condition?; 2. Is it the same everywhere?; 3. What are the dominant types of flora that can re-grow?

11 The State of the Environment of the gold mining areas in Suriname Importance of assessing the State of the Environment in the mining areas 1. Determine the risks associated for the surrounding areas as well as the local communities; 2. Determine the pressures on our resources (rivers, creeks, forests, soils etc.);

12 Essentials and Principles of environmental indicators 1. Do not confuse indicators with parameters or metrics; 2. Descriptive of the environment e.g. polluted surface water; ph TSS Hg, Cd, Pb concentrations BOD, COD etc. 3. Temporal and spatial

13 Future activities NIMOS and collaborations 1. Use SBB s map for impacted areas as a basic layer; 2. Assess the water bodies in these areas (NIMOS) Measure the chemical composition and physical conditions; Map these findings in a GIS database 3. Assess CO2 emissions from forest loss 4. Assess the Health Impacts on the residents in the affected areas 5. Assess the level of sediment contamination in the affected areas (tailings, stream beds) 6. Assess the relation between erosion and deforestation in the affected areas

14 Open source GIS-database