GPA Activities in Suriname

World Wildlife Fund/ Suriname

Illegal trade in mercury

In Suriname, mercury is specifically used in small scale mining, because it is easily obtained within the country. Estimations from recent survey among small retailers show that approximately 5,000KG of mercury is sold to miners annually. The government formally registered 1,000KG of imported mercury. In sheer contrast a United States Geographic Survey of 2007, states that 118Tof amalgam mercury had been exported to Suriname in 2006, this in spite of the formal ban on import of the substance. It is uncertain where the remainder of the mercury went to.

Estimates show that very little mercury is recovered in gold mining operations in the field and in jewelers. This means that the impacts of this development are devastating both to the environment and humans. Mercury can be recovered easily in the field, by using a retort. In this very simple tool the mixture of gold and mercury, amalgam, is heated and the mercury vapors are diverted to a small water basin where they condense back to liquid mercury. As such it prevents the detrimental fumes of being inhaled by the miner or entering the atmosphere. Likewise, jewelers must use an incineration oven.

Unfortunately the use of such equipment is not mandatory by law in Suriname.

WWF Views

1. It is of utmost importance that the government of Suriname gives clarity for their policy for the gold mining sector. Thus relevant actors can make valuable contributions to help support and formulate the policy.
2. Next to awareness about mercury and its effects, the government should also establish the judicial framework that makes the use of retorts and incineration mandatory, and gives guidelines for the storage of dangerous substances.
3. A financial mechanism should be established to support a shift in mind set among miners. The basis thereof could be the ”fair trade” principle in which legal miners get a higher price for their gold, if committed to mining according to environmentally sound techniques.
4. The involvement of the local communities is a prerequisite for the successful and strategic action against mercury pollution.
5. WWF supports scientific research on the effects of mercury pollution, as it is a tool to make miners, communities and legislators aware and take appropriate action.
Therefore the WWF Guianas gold mining pollution abatement program currently implements four projects with its partners.

The “Artisanal goldmining management within Benzdorp” project in Suriname

Goal: To improve the environmental management of small scale gold mining, including induced impacts of gold mining activities, within the Benzdorp concession of N.V. Grassalco.

Objectives

1. To reduce the negative impacts of artisanal gold mining activities in the Benzdorp concession by promotion of retort use.
2. To initiate an attitude change of the population by executing awareness program dealing with mercury poisoning, importance of retort use and sanitary improvements.
3. To improve artisanal mining techniques and introduce less destructive methods by construction of an improved sluicebox.
The “Mercury poisoning: A Threat to Brownsweg Villagers” project
The goal of this project is to create awareness about chronic mercury poisoning through fish consumption among Brownsweg villagers.

Objectives

1. Dissemination of information to Browsnweg villagers about chronic mercury poisoning through fish consumption in general and the relevancy to their situation
2. Determination of possible chronic mercury poisoning through fish consumption in the Brownsweg village
3. Development of a fish consumption list with edible fish species
3 Het project “Assessment and Analysis of the Goldmining Situation in the Brownsberg area”

Objective

To make a baseline study of the Brownsweg area that includes the Brownsberg by inventorying and developing a map indicating the mining camps. Secondly a report of the socio-economic situation in the project area will be made.
Satellite image project

Objective

1. To develop two maps (one each for year 2001/2002 and 2007/2008) using appropriated satellite images and (other) relevant digitized data to show the rate of deforestation of areas in Guyana, Suriname La Guyane and Brazil (Amapa) due to gold mining activities.
SOURCE: http://www.wwfguianas.org/our_work/goldmining/gpa_activities_in_suriname/