Environmental Impacts of Gold Mining: A Study of Mining Communities in Gorom Village, Rejaf County, Central Equatoria State, Republic of South Sudan

Abstract

South Sudan became newest country in Africa after gaining independent in 2011 from the Republic of Sudan after a referendum. Natural resources exploitations have contributed abundantly in socio-economic growth and development of South Sudan. The mining sector in South Sudan consists of both small-scale and large-scale mining, of which anyone has different environmental impacts. This research gives highlights on the environmental impacts of mining activities in South Sudan. The paper generally deliberated on the mining activities in Gorom village, Rejaf County (District) in Central Equatoria State. Primary and secondary data collection was used for the data collection as well as measurement of air quality by portable handheld air and noise devices for environmental assessments of various mining sites in the study area. The findings from the research revealed that mining activities, particularly that emanate from illegal small-scale mining (commonly known as ‘artisanal mining’) deplete natural resources such as the soil, water, the landscape, biodiversity, the ecosystem, among others. The research paper concludes that most important streams in the mining states have been heavily polluted, mainly by illegal small-scale mining. Land around the vicinity of mines has been degraded and vulnerable to severe erosion and loss of viability for agricultural purposes, among other uses. Accelerated clearing of vegetation for mining areas has negatively changed the hydrological regimes and/or patterns in Gorom, Central Equatoria State. Illegal small-scale mining has destroyed some important soil organisms and disrupted stable soil aggregates depriving the soil of organic matter and devoid of macronutrients and soil fertility necessary for plant growth and production. From this research finding, the study concludes by outlining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of the mining in the study area and recommended that there should be effective community participation in environmental decision making to ensure sustainable mining activities; addressing the various weaknesses in the policies and their enforcement in the mining sector; establishment of environmental oversight groups in mining communities; and create environmental awareness campaigns and/or education in mining communities.