Overcoming environmental problems in the gold panning sector through legislation and education: the Zimbabwean experience

Although small-scale mining is often associated with ruinous effects on the natural environment, Zimbabwe’s experience in gold panning demonstrates that though that may be true, the sector, can, through appropriate measures, be encouraged or enticed to develop environmentally friendly methods for gold mining and recovery. A combination of legislation, education, and the promotion of appropriate technology has enhanced the environmental management within the ever-growing gold panning community in Zimbabwe. This paper evaluates the success of attempts to minimise the environmental impacts of gold panning in Zimbabwe through legislation, education and the promotion of appropriate technology.