Participatory environmental monitoring committees in mining contexts

In 2013, an environmental monitoring committee was set up in a mine in Donoso, Panama to monitor the quality of water. The committee is operated by volunteers (Defenders of Water Resource) from the community who work together with consultants, a university and local residents to raise issues at sites, monitor sites and analyse samples. 

The committee was formed by the mining company itself as part of its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The work of the committee has for example found that the mining activities had changed the coloration of a river and the spills from vehciles transporting material had further contaminated some rivers. 

Citizen science- It is scientific research conducted by volunteers who are not professional researchers. It integrates public participation and collaboration in scientific research.

In this case study, through citizen science, volunteers supervise the monitoring and collection of data samples from sites. They also raise any issues that arise from the activities at mining sites. 

Stakeholders:

• First Quantum Minerals Ltd. Mining company- Established the monitoring committee and does the internal decision-making.
• Defenders of Water Resources in Donoso (Defensores de los Recursos Hídricos)- Are community volunteers who supervise monitoring and raise issues of what happens in the mine and surrounding area in terms of security and pollution.
• Community- Can participate in raising environmental issues.  
• Avanzar- Consultants who are responsible for the monitoring and analysis of samples.
• Universidad Autónoma Chiriquí- Does the monitoring, analysis of samples and provides the technology.  
• Board of Rural Water Supply- Manages the availability of water for human consumption.   

Network, communication and governance:

1. The mining company set up the co mmittee and made an external call to the community.  The main support is provided by a company that was hired by the mining company to design and implement the committee. After four years of work, the company scaled back its efforts in order to delegate its functions to the committee and a local university.

2. The prioritisation of the aspects to be monitored, the choice of specific places and the determination of mitigation actions are collaborative. 

3. The monitoring is led by the consultant Avanzar, hired by the company. In addition, the Autonomous University of Chiriquí provides the necessary technical support. 

i. The representatives of the community and, the university and Avanzar collaboratively define the monitored area. The monitoring committee has had training on water chlorination.

ii. The quality of surface water is monitored every four months by community members. There are also reactive monitoring exercises based on warnings issued by the communities. An example of this is a change in the coloration detected in the river. Water Defenders take these complaints and present them to the Autonomous University of Chiriquí and Avanzar, so they can be analysed and, if appropriate, channelled to the company for action. 

iii. The transport of the sample is monitored by the committee from its collection until it's sent to be analysed. 

4. Any community member can with a phone report environmental situations that catch their attention. The defenders (the committee) can then investigate it with further testing or refer them to independent experts. 

5. Internal decision-making is le d by the mining company, or its collaborators, with the help of consultation with the community. 

6. The committee collaborates with external entities to follow up on the problems identified and suggest solutions.

7. The committee collaborates with external entities to follow up on the problems identified and suggest solutions.  

Communication channels: