CSR Programs: An alternative towards Sustainable Development in Mining Industry in Bolivia

摘要

Through history, we learned that economical compensationrnfor the use and exploitation of resources is not enough tornachieve sustainable development13 of the mining industry inrnBolivia. To grant compensation for the use of resources to therncommunities in terms of development instead of money canrnsurely make a difference and it can even give the miningrnoperator an opportunity to contribute to the overall progressrnwhile overcoming the difficulties of eventual confrontationsrnthat threaten the regular performance of its activities.rnWith this purpose in mind, it is necessary to pay specialrnattention to the characteristics of the society that existed priorrnto the mining site, the one that developed around the miningrnactivity during its evolution and particularly to the one that isrnintended to be left after the closure of the mine. It becomesrnessential to rethink the development model and to work untilrnaccomplishing a harmonic and holistic integration of therneconomic, environmental and social dimensions ofrnsustainability. To achieve this goal, the informed and timelyrnparticipation of the communities in management initiativesrnlike Corporate Social Responsibility Programs, as arndemocratic practice from the start of the mining activities,rncan help to consolidate a respectful and transparentrnrelationship that seeks to expose and share the benefits ofrnmining activities with the surrounding area.rnThe main failure of mining regions in Bolivia is to dependrncompletely on the mining activity and not to foreseernalternatives for the moment in which the deposits arernexhausted and all the activities stop. With the activernparticipation of communities in the management of CSRrnPrograms implemented by mining operators, it might bernpossible to make a change. Mining alone does not lead torndevelopment but it can help the region. When the miningrnactivity is developed, mining operators with the socialrncontrol of the communities might preserve the environment.rnThe income of the region might be invested in CSRrnPrograms managed along with the communities to strengthenrnalternative productive activities related to renewablernresources (agriculture, livestock, fishing, etc.) so that therncessation of mining activities does not leave poverty andrneconomic stagnation to the region.