A Foretold Environmental Catastrophe The case of small-scale and artisanal mining in Madre de Dios

This paper problematizes the role of informal mining in the environmental de-pletion of Madre de Dios through the analysis of the institutional dynamics that shape the miners actions. It answers the question of how the State's be-haviour influences the causal relationship between small-scale and artisanal mining and environmental depletion. By using an analytical framework built from the theoretical debates about the structural approach of informal econo-my and natural resource-led development, three concepts such as institutional change, informalization and conflicts are identified to interpret the dynamics that led to the deforestation and loss of biodiversity in the region. Under these analytical considerations, qualitative research techniques were employed in or-der to find the connectivity among the three concepts within the public sec-tor's actions. Thereby, the findings of the research conclude that there is a his-torical causal relationship between the role of the State and the harmful behaviour of small-scale and artisanal gold miners regarding the environment. In this sense, regulations have sought to ensure the sustainability of a natural resource-led development model under the competitive dynamics of the mar-ket economy.