Оценка влияния добычи золота на\nэкономику и окружающую среду на примере Эквадора

На примере месторождения Портовело-Зарума в Эквадоре анализируются применяемые методы и технологии добычи золота с позиции охраны окружающей среды. Предложен механизм управления природопользованием и обеспечения экологически устойчивого развития территории в данном регионе.

The influence of gold mining on ecological and economic development is analyzed. In terms of the\nPortovelo-Zaruma Deposit in Ecuador, the mining history is discussed, the characteristic of the ore\nregion is given, the applied methods and technologies of gold mining are analyzed. The influence\nof the development of the gold mining industry in the region on the economy and environment is\nshown. Gold mining provides a certain economic income and employment opportunities for the\nlocal population. An obstacle to effective control and regulation of subsoil use in the region is the\ninformal nature of employment, which acts as a form of poverty reduction. Artisanal and smallscale gold mining is accompanied by a significant impact on the environment, pollution of rivers,\nin particular through the use of mercury and sodium cyanide in the process of metal extraction.\nProcessing plants are located along rivers, their waters, riverbed sediments contain mercury, which\nleads to contamination of surface and ground water, affects the incidence of population. Waste dumps\nare formed, the placement of which leads to the withdrawal of agricultural land from circulation\nand changes in the landscape. The objects of accumulated environmental damage and tailings\ndumps formed as a result of past economic activity present an acute problem. In order to ensure the\nsustainable development of the Portovelo-Zaruma area, preserve and maintain existing mines as a\nUNESCO world cultural heritage site, it is proposed to create a legislative framework for the formation\nof the Federal Fund of subsoil users, the introduction of restrictions on gold mining and the inclusion\nof such deposits in the Fund of future generations, since current technologies and conditions now in\nuse are incapable to eliminate environmental damage.\nA mechanism for managing natural resources and ensuring environmentally sustainable development\nof the territory in this region is proposed, which includes shared financing of environmental projects,\nmaintaining restrictions on the involvement of new mining sites on the cost–benefit basis and the\nbalance of interests of involved parties, creating liquidation funds for the purpose of reclamation\nof disturbed lands and elimination of accumulated environmental damage, development of geoecological tourism and guided outing to historical sites of mine workings and preservation of traditional mining for the local population