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Garimpo and public policies in Brazil: Proposal for a responsible activity

Author

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  • dos Santos Macedo, Alex
  • Macedo, Dione
  • Sohn, Hassan
  • Gomes Ferreira, Luís Mauro

Abstract

Garimpo, or artisanal and small-scale mineral extraction, is a centuries-old activity in Brazil that has been largely neglected by the government, society, academia, and other stakeholders since the seventeenth century. This article proposes a public policy framework aimed at revitalizing and regulating this overlooked sector by promoting new mining standards with a focus on sustainability. The research utilized documentary and bibliographic methods to develop the proposed policy. A problem tree was created to identify the central issues, their causes, and their consequences, and a logical model was developed based on established public policy modeling references. The findings emphasize the need for the policy to address several critical components: mineral mapping and regularization, inspection and monitoring, training and education, appropriate technology, environmental management, responsible trade and supply chains, economic incentives, and community participation. The study also highlights key challenges for the policy's success, including the lack of political will, limited state capacity of mining agencies, discontinuity of interventions, and the lack of government presence in mining territories. Recommendations are provided to outline a preliminary model for intervention.

Suggested Citation

  • dos Santos Macedo, Alex & Macedo, Dione & Sohn, Hassan & Gomes Ferreira, Luís Mauro, 2025. "Garimpo and public policies in Brazil: Proposal for a responsible activity," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:105:y:2025:i:c:s0301420725001333
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105591
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Machado, Iran F. & de M. Figueiroa, Silvia F., 2001. "500 years of mining in Brazil: a brief review," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 9-24, March.
    2. Verbrugge, Boris & Besmanos, Beverly, 2016. "Formalizing artisanal and small-scale mining: Whither the workforce?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 134-141.
    3. De Jong, Terah U. & Sauerwein, Titus, 2021. "State-owned minerals, village-owned land: How a shared property rights framework helped formalize artisanal diamond miners in Côte d’Ivoire between 1986 and 2016," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
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