CASM China

The Communities and Small-Scale Mining Regional Network in China (CASM-China) held its inaugural meeting in Beijing from January 5-7, 2004. CASM-China brings together a wide range of people involved in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in China, within the context of poverty alleviation and sustainable communities. Opinion within the country is sharply divided between those who see ASM activity as harmful and unnecessary and those who see it as essential for local development.

CASM-China members include governmental officials from the national to local levels in a range of departments, a multi-diciplinary group of researchers from both universities and goverment research organizations and international researchers and organizations. CASM-China is working to incourage the Chinese government to implement policies and regulations that incourages poverty alleviation and a more sustainable small-scale mining industry.

Following its January inauguration, CASM-China has worked toward implementing it's work plan, undertaking activities including:

  • Formalization under an extant organization, the Chinese Mining Association. Click here for the CMA website;
  • The development of a web-based knowledge centre and the creation of an online small-scale mining forum. Click here for the CASM-China website (in Chinese);
  • Five multi-stakeholder meetings and field surveys in Hebei, Henan and Shanxi Provinces, and Chongqing and Beijing cities, attended by CASM-China representatives, local miners and officials. Full details about the meeting and its outcome can be found at the CASM-China Website (in Chinese); and
  • A project beginning in July 2004, analyzing improvements in the management of small-scale coal mines in Chongqing Municipality. This project is undertaken with the cooperation of the College of Economics and Business Administration, the University of Chongqing, the Chongqing Bureau of Land and Resources and the University of Dundee.

For more information about CASM-China and it's activities please email Shen Lei, AJ Gunson, or Philip Andrews-Speed.

 

© 2012 CASM