Evaluating the Effects and Social Consequences of Launching the Mining Site and Processing Plant in Taftan Township

The current research aims to evaluate the social effects and consequences of development action in the southeast of Iran. This action is related to construction of a polymetal mine in South Taftan. 

Methodologically, this research should also be an analytical and explanatory study based on a qualitative approach. Accordingly, this approach was followed by the method of field study and techniques including observation, interview, analysis of beneficiaries for collecting data, and content analysis technique applied for this purpose.

Most involved beneficiaries declared some issues such as alignment of action with regional sustainable development plans, unemployment adjustment and providing constant employment opportunities, achieving sustainable security, reverse migration, and benefitting other public and service providers in the region are among the positive outcomes of this project. On the other side, issues like changing the traditional livelihood patterns, damage to gardens or farms and homes in the mine area, threats to the health of residents, air and environmental pollution, loss of natural landscape of villages and environmental threats, and in particular the intensification of local and intergroup tensions are among the consequences which especially natives and their representatives feel likely to occur following launching the project. In the meantime, it should be emphasized that the ignorance and ambiguity of the local community towards this project is one of the main areas of intensification of concerns in the mentioned community. 

The construction of the mine causes fears and hopes. In order to manage these fears and hopes, it is necessary to pay attention to the mental and semantic framework of the natives.

Innovation: 

The present research is one of the few studies in the social impact assessment of mining construction in Persian.