Abstract
Artisanal gold mining has a long history in Sierra Leone. Mining is the most important economic activity in the communities endowed with minerals. Many people who are often disadvantaged in the labour market are engaged in this sector. The poor implementation of mining laws and regulations is fueling the rate of involvement in the sector. In-depth studies of the effect of artisanal mining activities on the livelihood strategy of non-miming population in Sierra Leone are rare. The overarching objective of this work is to bring to light the effect of artisanal gold mining on the environment and livelihood of local resident with a case study of Baomahun, Delenga Section of Valunia Chiefdom, Bo District, Southern Sierra Leone. The study population comprised of people residing at the study area as at 2015. The primary sampling units included elements from the Baomahun vicinity such as miners, mines monitors, conservation agents and local residents of the village. The sample frame employed in this study was the random selection of artisanal miners at each site where mining was being undertaken, mines monitoring officers, conservation agents and local residents. Sample size was 76 people. This was done to indicate proper representation of the study area. And also 76 questionnaires were administered to miners, mines monitors, conservation agents and local residents. Both primary data and secondary data were used in the study. Detailed explanation of the analyses was accomplished by both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study revealed that there are varied degrees of visible impacts of artisanal mining on the environments. They include soil depression; creation of water pools in abandoned unfilled mines and diversion, and turbidity of local streams. Artisanal mining as an economic activity has imparted both positively and negatively on the livelihood of resident. Significant gaps and disparities exist in the implementation of the current Mines and Minerals Act of 2009 on the artisanal mining sector.
Highlights
Economic development in Sierra Leone is underpinned by the endowment of the natural resource base
The overarching objective of this work is to bring to light the effect of artisanal gold mining on the environment and livelihood of local resident with a case study of Baomahun, Delenga Section of Valunia Chiefdom, Bo District, Southern Sierra Leone
Digenous people in the study area? 3) What is the extent to which mining laws have been enforced and policies implemented to ensure compliance to social, environmental, standards? The objective of this study were to investigate the impact of artisanal gold mining on the environment and livelihood of local community by: 1) identifying and assessing the methods and processes of artisanal gold mining, 2) determining the impact of these methods and processes on the environment, 3) assessing the impacts of artisanal mining on the livelihood foundation of local residents, 4) assessing the effectiveness of existing national mining act in the Baomahun community with the principal aim of identifying significant gaps and disparities that may exist in the implementation
Summary
Economic development in Sierra Leone is underpinned by the endowment of the natural resource base. The country is clothed with impressive mineral resources and the mining sector remains the most important component of the economy outside of agriculture in terms of economic value and foreign exchange earnings [1]. Many informal people or non-agricultural workers in rural communities and regions who lack diversified livelihood strategies have entered the sector [3]. They see mining as a safety net that produces higher output than other locally feasible livelihood strategies [4]. Because the sector is characterised with inadequate legal and regulatory framework and faced with problems such as isolation from the mainstream of economic development, environmental and social effects, are often being ignored [5]
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