Mineral exhaustion and its livelihood implications for artisanal and small-scale miners

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a vital livelihood practice around the world, especially in Global South. In Tanzania, millions of people depend on artisanal gold many these are Geita, main region Tanzania. Based qualitative research conducted this region, paper engages miners’ experiences mining. It highlights how extracting experienced as increasingly difficult miners worry that reserves will be exhausted near future. Academic attention policy making have focused formalization sustainable management ASM, addressing current practices their social environmental impacts. However, knowledge gap remains understanding implications emerge when mineral sources nearing exhaustion they become harder to extract. has led diversify investments consider alternative strategies. With focus Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), calls for broader sustainability discussion well better integration ASM into SDG agenda. This should exit strategies livelihoods upon non-renewable resources.