Environmental Impacts: Local Perspectives of Selected Mining Edge Communities in Sierra Leone

Prince T Mabey,Wei Li,Abu J Sundufu,Akhtar H Lashari

doi:10.3390/su12145525

Abstract

Despite its contributions to the development of the country, the mining sector in Sierra Leone, has been attributed to a multitude of impacts on the environment. This article focuses on assessing the environmental impacts of mining in mining edge communities in Sierra Leone. A survey of 360 people from three mining edge communities (Sierra Rutile Limited (SRL), Bonthe district; Octea Mining Company (OMC), Kono district and Sierra Leone Mining Company (SLM), Port Loko district) was conducted. Key informant interviews, focus groups, and secondary data sources - Government policies and regulatory documents, government’s Mines Department annual reports-provided data for this article. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System with a mean separation done at α = 0.05 (SAS version 9.4). As a result of mining operations, the rates of deforestation, land degradation and destruction of farmlands, inadequate availability of clean water, poor air quality and noise pollution were the main impacts exacerbated by rutile, iron ore and diamond mining. Strategies as recommended by the local communities to be put in place, to restore ecological function in the mining edge communities include, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Mines and Mineral Agency, and other responsible authorities addressing weakness in mining and environmental policies, thereby strengthening enforcement and monitoring regulations relating to mining operations; and companies embarking on rehabilitation, reclamation, and restoration measures to ensure environmental sustainability.

Highlights

Despite being the backbone of many economies in developing countries, mining operations, no matter the scale, are disruptive to the environment [1,2]
This study examines the impacts of mining on the environment in three selected mining edge communities within the vicinity of Octea Mining Company, Kono, Kono district; Sierra Rutile Limited, Rutile, Bonthe district and SL Mining, Lunsar, Port Loko district, in Sierra Leone
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Mineral Agency, and other responsible authorities should address this by intensifying their implementation with a view of ensuring environmental sustainability

Summary

Introduction

Despite being the backbone of many economies in developing countries, mining operations, no matter the scale, are disruptive to the environment [1,2]. It contributes to indiscriminate vegetation loss, degradation of farmland [3], and river sedimentation [4]. With an expansion in mineral production regionally and globally, sustainable mineral resource production becomes a significant challenge, and there is an increasing need for sustainable environmental management [5]. Sustainable mineral production is essential for the protection of natural resources and in many countries around the world [8]

Methods

Results

Conclusion