AT WHAT COST? Rivers of Gold and the Governance Crisis in Liberia's Artisanal Mining Sector

This report examines the rapid expansion of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Liberia, with a particular focus on river-based gold mining and its implications for environmental governance, natural resource management, and sustainable development. Drawing on field monitoring across Bong, Gbarpolu, and Rivercess Counties, the study documents the increasing use of mechanized dredging, weak regulatory oversight, and widespread environmental degradation affecting rivers, forests, and biodiversity. The findings reveal that unregulated mining contributes to water pollution, habitat destruction, sedimentation, and declining ecosystem health while exposing governance gaps in licensing, enforcement, and compliance with Liberia's Minerals and Mining Law. The report also highlights the role of informal financial systems, community elites, and foreign actors in shaping the artisanal mining economy. It recommends strengthening environmental regulation, improving mining governance, enhancing institutional coordination, promoting responsible artisanal mining practices, and protecting critical ecosystems. These measures are essential for advancing natural resource governance, environmental sustainability, and inclusive economic development in Liberia and across Africa.