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June 27-29,1998, Lima Peru
Lima Workshop on Mining and Sustainable Development in the Americas
[en español]

[ PDF Version of Mining Report ]
Report of Proceedings
Revised notes distributed in English on October 22, 1998



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Executive Summary

On the holiday weekend at the end of June, 1998, a unique event took place in Lima, Peru. Seventy six people from 11 countries in the Americas came together to discuss how to improve mining policies and practices in the Americas. Representatives of industry, governments, research institutions, non-governmental organizations, communities, indigenous peoples and multi-lateral organizations shared their different perspectives and experiences, arrived at a vision statement, and formed five working groups to act on the vision.

Building a statement of vision was not easy. The discussions were highly animated and the participants fully engaged. They identified five core objectives and 12 areas in which concrete results are sought, under the general vision of mining for "Balanced, Harmonious and Sustainable Development."

The five strategic objectives are:

  1. Improved living conditions
  2. Sustainable technologies and economic development
  3. Transparent regulations and policies
  4. Internalized social consensus
  5. Democratic participation of stakeholders.
Within each of these objectives, specific activities were identified to be undertaken for each category of results being pursued. In order to carry the discussions further and to encourage cooperative action, working groups were formed around each of the objectives. Twenty-six people volunteered to participate in these working groups to be coordinated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).

The idea of holding the workshop emerged from an earlier series of meetings held in Canada, organized by IISD and IDRC, with support from the Centre for Foreign Policy Development. During these meetings, concerns had been expressed about the environmental and social impacts of mining on communities, both in Canada and in Latin America. The suggestion to expand the dialogue from a group in Canada to a broader group in Latin America received support from IISD, IDRC, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Natural Resources Canada, GRADE (Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo) in Peru and Placer Dome.

At the end of the workshop, participants generally concluded that it had achieved its objectives. The workshop had generated a sense of goodwill that can form the basis of future networking and collaboration. Bridges were built among private, government and civil society participants, and information on current initiatives was shared. Interest in establishing a communications network was confirmed and IISD/IDRC agreed to provide electronic networks (supplemented by fax where necessary) to serve participants.

For further information contact:
Nola-Kate Seymoar
nkseymoar@iisd.ca
Fax: 1 (204) 958-7710
or
IDRC Mining Policy Research Initiative (MPRI)

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