Title: Sustainable development and the response of the local community to gold mining: the case of Thrace, Greece

Authors: Elpida Fardogianni; Veronika Andrea; Evangelia Karasmanaki; Garyfallos Arabatzis; Georgios Tsantopoulos

Addresses: Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, Pantazidou 193, 682 00, Orestiada, Greece ' Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, Pantazidou 193, 682 00, Orestiada, Greece ' Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, Pantazidou 193, 682 00, Orestiada, Greece ' Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, Pantazidou 193, 682 00, Orestiada, Greece ' Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, Pantazidou 193, 682 00, Orestiada, Greece

Abstract: While gold mining is one of the most prosperous investments, it often triggers opposition due to its possible negative effects on human health and the environment. There are numerous cases worldwide in which government decisions disregarded the concerns of local communities. In the region of Thrace in Northern Greece, an international gold mining company obtained a mining permit from the Greek state and attempted to extract the existing gold deposits; however, the local community managed to halt these plans. This study examined local residents' views on local development and the impacts of gold mining as well as it recorded stakeholders' positions and the content of the media regarding this controversial issue. Results showed that local residents perceived that future local development should depend mainly on the primary sector and tourism rather than gold mining while the latter was connected with possible negative environmental impacts on the area.

Keywords: agricultural lands; local development; natural resources; participatory governance; residents' attitudes; primary sector; development policies; Thrace; Greece.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSAMI.2022.124580

International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Management and Informatics, 2022 Vol.8 No.2, pp.156 - 178

Received: 29 Mar 2022
Accepted: 11 Apr 2022
Published online: 28 Jul 2022 *

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