Evaluation of the social, economic and environmental impact of the exploitation of a mining company in the villages of San Andrés, San Miguel and Azacualpa, La Unión, Copán, Honduras, March 2015 to February 2016

Abstract

As part of the research priorities identified by the UNAH and sponsored by the Department of Scientific Research and graduate DICYP, a field study was conducted during March 2015 to February 2016, which describes and interprets the perception people have about sustainable development regarding industry specifically metal mining in three dimensions discussed at the 1992 Rio Summit; such as economic, social and environmental. This paper presents a review of the theories that have promoted the mining industry and the need to incorporate a fourth dimension of development aimed at strengthening the institutional, governance and transparency; in order to articulate and harmonize the other dimensions of development. This work covered a series of interviews with different actors involved in the mining industry and development, both public, private and civil society level. Some quantitative tools used in this study were questionnaires, interviews, observations, and researcher’s notes. Overall it is estimated that there are more social and environmental costs generated by the mining industry than profit. The results also show that the metal mining industry is not compatible with the universal concept of development that suggests meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations to meet the need; because mining is a nonrenewable resource.