Environmental and Health Assessment in Two Small-Scale Gold Mining Areas – Indonesia Final Report (Sulawesi and Kalimantan)
The present report describes the results achieved in two small scale gold mining areas in Indonesia, North Sulawesi (Talawaan) and Central Kalimantan (Galangan) - as part of the environmental and health assessment (E&HA) conducted by the Brazilian Centre for Mineral Technology (CETEM) and the German Institute of Forensic Medicine (IFM) of the University of Munich, under the general coordination of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The E&HA is a part of the GEF/UNIDP/UNIDO Global Mercury Project - Removal of Barriers to the Introduction of Cleaner Artisanal Gold Mining and Extraction Technologies. The aim of the subcontract was to undertake two environmental and medical investigations in the Galangan area (Central Kalimantan), and in the Talawaan area (North Sulawesi), both in Indonesia. The ultimate aim of the whole UNIDO project is to reduce mercury losses in the project demonstration sites by means of introducing new technologies, while improving the income of the miners through more efficient recovery, increasing knowledge and awareness, and providing policy advice on the regulation of artisanal gold mining with due consideration for gender issues.