ASM-PACE began as a partnership programme between Estelle Levin Limited and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF, also known as the World Wildlife Fund) to address the environmental impacts of artisanal and small scale mining (ASM) in some of the world's most important ecosystems.
Active since 2010, the programme is focused exclusively on addressing the impacts of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) occurring in protected areas and critical ecosystems ("PACE").
It aims to find workable, sustainable, win-win solutions that balance environmental concerns with the economic development potential of ASM. Involves all stakeholders, including directly with miners and their communities, governments, conservationists, corporations, and others.
The project uses a scientific foundation of knowledge, participatory methods and rights-based approaches to work with all stakeholders, including, directly with miners and their communities, governments, conservationists, corporations, and others.
To learn more about the ASM–PACE, please visit:
- our Publications page with the latest reports and toolkits
- the Programme Information page to know more about ASM-PACE values, aims, methods, and partners
- the Frequently Asked Questions page to read the Programme response to some of the concerns and issues regarding ASM and conservation.
ASM-PACE Facts
There are an estimated 20 million artisanal miners in the world today
ASM's contribution to the global production of minerals include:
- 80% of all sapphires
- 20% of all gold
- up to 20% of all diamonds.
There are at least 24 types of minerals being mined artisanally in "PACE" locations.
ASM-PACE Study Areas
"ASM occurs in approximately 80 countries and in PACE in 32 of 36 countries studied by us."
In or around 96 of 147 protected areas in these countries.
Affected sites include at least 7 natural World Heritage Sites and at least 12 WWF Priority Landscapes.
ASM is occurring in or impacting a wide range of critical ecosystems, including arctic landscapes (Greenland), tropical rainforests (Brazil and Gabon, among many others), coral reefs (Philippines) and more.
