Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
"The ultimate goal of CSR is responsible development that will optimize benefits of mining to societies in host countries, contributing to alleviation of poverty and strengthening of national, regional and local economies."
(PDAC response to Federal Government CSR Strategy: http://www.pdac.ca/pdac/advocacy/csr/pdac-response-govt-csr-strategy-090430.pdf)
As explorers, Camargo and its partners do not have the same level of funding as a mining company to deal with many of the complex issues that our industry confronts in the field (http://www.pdac.ca/pdac/advocacy/csr/042-047-sustainability-feature.pdf). Nonetheless, we have a duty to our clients and investors as well as to local stakeholders in the Project areas to conduct our activites in a socially responsible manner, and minimize risk by engaging stakeholders very early in the exploration/development process. Some specific things we do prior to initiating activites are:
- Identify the local authorities and hold a community meeting to explain that our activities are in investment in the mineral potential of an area, and do not actually generate any revenue at this time. Nonetheless, the Company is prepared to participate with the community in solving common practical problems (e.g. access roads, waterlines), and provide a cetain level of temporary direct employment.
- Identify local talent and guides who might be willing to participate in the exploration program and hire appropriately prior to bringing in any outsiders.
- Identify other local suppliers and make purchasing arrangements.
When a Project proceeds to the drilling stage, the process for obtaining an Operating Permit from SEMARNAT largely incorporates a formalized CSR strategy, whereby those directly affected must authorize the Company's activites in writing, and any compensation due to the affected party (ies) is usually specified in this document.