“Surviving and growing up with illegal status”: The Analysis of Socio–Economic Household, Potential Conflict, the Environmental Damage, and Vulnerability of Local Community to Disaster

Abstract

This study aims to analyze, from social-economics and environmental perspectives, how illegal gold mining survives and grows with its illegal status. Generally, illegal mining has a positive impact on the socio-economy of all parties involved. However, mining activities cause environmental damage and pollution so that the local community is vulnerable to disaster and potential conflict. This research was conducted at an illegal mining site in Aceh, the western province of Indonesia. To describe the primary data, it employs a descriptive qualitative method. The purposive sampling method is used to select key informants. The results show an increasing income of all stakeholders involved. To minimize environmental damage and pollution, illegal mining uses a very simple—but very environmentally friendly—tool, “Asbhuk”, which does not harm the sustainability of the natural environment, especially the use of wells and mountain springs. Nevertheless, natural disasters often occur in the mining area, such as overflowing rivers and landslides caused by heavy rainfall. It is a negative impact from changes in the structure of mining land, forest encroachment, and the expansion of the river. There is no significant conflict between direct and indirect parties engaged in illegal mining activities. The direct parties desire this mining activity to be conducted by artisanal and small groups.