Territorial development and mining. Insights and challenges from the Chilean case

Area of Science:

• Socio-economics
• Regional Development
• Mining Engineering

Background:

• Mining activities often occur in remote areas, leading to neglect by centralized governments.
• A lack of understanding regarding mining's impact hinders regional development.
• Chile, a major mining nation, serves as a case study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the territorial development impacts of mining.
• To explore the link between mining activities and socio-economic outcomes.
• To advocate for a territorial perspective in mining development studies.

Main Methods:

• Review of eight papers within the Special Issue: Territorial development and mining in Chile.
• Analysis of case studies on mining's effects on local economies and societies.
• Synthesis of research on the spatial and temporal dynamics of mining and development.

Main Results:

• Mining significantly impacts local economic activity and societal outcomes.
• Centralized governance and limited understanding of mining impacts contribute to development lags in mining regions.
• Chile's experience highlights the complex relationship between mining and territorial development.

Conclusions:

• A territorial approach is crucial for understanding mining's role in development.
• Further research is needed on the temporal and spatial dynamics between mining and development.
• Addressing the challenges faced by mining communities requires a deeper understanding of these dynamics.