During the discussion, Patrick Schein, Founder of the Alliance for Responsible Mining, outlined the environmental consequences of unregulated mining.

“The most severe impacts include deforestation, land desertification, water pollution, and the widespread contamination from chemicals that affect both ecosystems and communities,” he said.

Schein also noted that ASM operations are significantly less carbon-intensive than their large-scale counterparts, considering they emit six to ten times less carbon per unit compared to large-scale operations.

To achieve greater sustainability, Schein emphasized the need for formalization of ASM.

“Small miners must first be recognized legally, accepted by the communities they operate in, and supported with the tools and incentives needed for sustainable development,” he explained.

Emmanuel Baidoo, Head of Community Relations for AngloGold Ashanti Africa, stressed the importance of collaboration between mining companies and governments to curb illicit mining, which hampers land rehabilitation efforts.

He advocated for reimagining mine rehabilitation projects not just as compliance exercises but as opportunities for transformative development.

“We need to go beyond simply meeting regulations - we must earn our social license to operate,” Baidoo said. “Our approach has evolved to include urban design models that turn former mining lands into industrial parks and mixed-use urban developments. This is becoming a replicable model.”

Charlotte Fafa Tay Senyo, Director of Sustainability Projects at Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, added that meaningful community inclusion must span the entire mining value chain. “Communities shouldn’t be involved only in rehabilitation efforts. They should be co-creators in every phase of mining projects - from planning to execution - so that outcomes are truly sustainable and beneficial,” she stated.

Isaac Gyamfi, Managing Director, Solidaridad West Africa showcased some of the projects which his company worked on to revegetate previously mined areas. These include projects with five small-scale miners between 2019 and 2022, which included bringing in private sector investments to train communities on environmental sustainability. The company also worked with AngloGold Ashanti to convert mined areas for agricultural practices.