Artisanal Gold Mining, Island Development, and Environmental Governance
This research community examines the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of small-scale gold mining and the development challenges facing island states. It focuses on the governance of extractive industries, the health impacts of mercury and heavy metals, and the sustainability of tourism-dependent economies in vulnerable regions.
The work centers on the operational realities of artisanal and small-scale gold mining, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Peruvian Amazon. Recurring themes include the environmental degradation caused by mercury use and heavy metal contamination, the social impacts on mining communities, and the economic policies governing the sector. A parallel strand of research addresses the unique vulnerabilities of small island developing states, analyzing their exposure to climate change, the management of island tourism, and the broader political economy of developing states. The literature frequently employs case studies from Ghana, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Indonesia to assess the intersection of resource extraction, public health, and sustainable development.
The largest share of the community's output is found in gold research, accounting for 1.1% of all gold research, with 2,302 papers in this group. Mercury research also features prominently, representing 0.5% of mercury research with 699 papers. The community publishes most frequently in the Island Studies Journal, The Extractive Industries and Society, and Resources Policy.
Recent work includes studies on the environmental regulation of mining, the link between mining and malaria in the Brazilian Amazon, and the application of remote sensing for water quality management.