Social and Environmental Impacts of Non-Metallic Mining in Quilcas, Peru: A Quantitative Analysis with Regression Models

Abstract

This study analyzes the social and environmental impacts of the non-metallic mining activity of the Calcarios Comacsa company in the Peasant Community of Quilcas, in the Junín region of Peru. An interdisciplinary approach was used, combining social and environmental perspectives to evaluate the effects of mining in a rural context. The research was based on the use of multiple regression models and correlation analysis to determine interdependencies between key variables. The methodology adopted a quantitative, cross-sectional and non-experimental design, using a sample of 70 observations obtained from surveys applied to the population of the affected community. The results indicate that quality of life was the best valued variable with an average of 2.786, while environmental quality presented the lowest perception (1.886). The correlation analysis revealed strong associations between social cohesion and quality of life (0.854), as well as between the fulfillment of social commitments and quality of life (0.845). The regression model showed that social cohesion has a positive and significant effect on environmental quality (0.376, p < 0.001) and the loss of natural resources (0.265, p < 0.05), while compliance with social commitments significantly impacts corporate environmental management (0.468, p < 0.001). Heteroskedasticity was identified in some models, which was corrected using variance-weighted estimates, improving the precision of the estimators. In conclusion, the findings highlight the importance of strengthening social cohesion and corporate responsibility to improve the perception of mining impact and promote more sustainable development in affected communities.