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Oro Verde® Featured
SEED Gold Winner
Year of participation:2009
Region:Latin America & Caribbean (GRULAC)
Subject:Biodiversity / Natural resource management|Sustainable consumption and production (recycling)
A national NGO and local community associations are engaged in an initiative to reverse environmental degradation and social exclusion produced by illegal and uncontrolled mechanized mining. A mining certification process and capacity building program have been created. More than 700 artisan mines are now following social and environmental criteria.
Original project description
Since 2000, Oro Verde® reverses environmental degradation, caused by uncontrolled mining in the Chocó Bioregion by developing certified responsible mining practices.
The partnership, consisting of a national NGO and three grassroots organisations, has created the basis for the world’s first local certification scheme for precious metals and has propelled a worldwide fair-trade movement around responsible small-scale mining. The artisanal miners who extract the gold and platinum comply with strict ecological standards. They preserve the Chocó Bioregion, one of the world’s biodiversity reservoirs, by fostering sustainable use of natural resources between the mining communities. Both the miners and the tropical rainforest are protected from contamination produced by the use of mercury or cyanide in normal commercial mining practices. The responsibly extracted gold and platinum is then sold under the Oro Verde brand name to ethical jewellers in green and fair (trade) markets mainly in Europe and North America.
Besides, Oro Verde® provides communities with alternatives to diversify their income and with complementary benefits such as training to improve managerial skills. Oro Verde® also reduces social exclusion by strengthening local miners and facilitating market access for them. The programme empowers communities by helping them to use, protect and gain control over their territory. The compliance of the social, economic, environmental and labour standards of the certification also results in improved working and living conditions.
Current project updates
Last updated: 7 diciembre 2009
Web Documentary by Sébastien Daycard-Heid and Gillaume Collanges:
http://www.alifelikeminebyargos.com/reports/colombia/21-on-the-trail-of-green-gold.php
Growth plans description
• Involve around 700 more miners in the scheme to increase the initiative’s impact and guarantee a constant supply of precious metals.
• Strengthen community organisations by training and helping them to create and support miners’ producer groups.
• Set up a specialised procurement chain for the distribution of the gold.
• Certify production under the international labelling scheme FAIRMINED + Eco (fair trade gold) inspired by Oro Verde®.
• Develop market opportunities for Oro Verde® in green and fair international markets niches
• Add market value through the Oro Verde® brand.
Current Needs
• Expert support for marketing.
• Expert support for licensing of the Oro Verde® trademark.
• Funding partners to support scale-up.
Project Gallery
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Project partners
• AMICHOCÓ.
• The Community Councils of Tadó, ASOCASAN
• The Community Councils of Condoto, COCOMACOIRO
• FUNDAMOJARRAS
SEED support for this project
• Assisted with building / improving a business plan
• Assisted with creating an impact and growth strategy
• Assisted in self-assessment to evaluate the initiative’s status towards 8 critical success factors
• Designed marketing material
• Provided networking contacts
Founding partners
Socios fundadores
Zona de miembros
Nuestra red de medios sociales
