Abstract
Land tenure is a major determinant of the types of land use in a region or area and, by extension, affects its conservation. Most of the land that falls under public or communal land-tenure systems in developing countries such as Mali faces numerous challenges among them being natural resource overexploitation. This is mainly because the land is openly accessible to all people around it, and thus the tendency to overexploit the land resources leading to degradation, and food and environmental insecurity. In Mali, land ownership falls under three categories: Public or Government, Communal and Private. This study was undertaken to assess the land ownership types in Yanfolia District, Mali, a gold-mining area that lies some 170 km southern east of capital district of Bamako and upstream of Selingué dam on Sankarini River. A social survey of 200 households was done using a structured questionnaire. Additional research instruments were focus group discussion, key informant interviews and observation check-lists. The data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study findings indicated that most of the land under gold-mining was owned by the government followed by community and finally private. There were significant associations between size of land under gold-mining and land tenure types: communal land (χ2 = 30.52; p = 0.000); private land (χ2 = 65.09; p = 0.000) and public or government land (χ2 = 177; p = 0.000). Gold-mining takes place mostly on lands classified under public/government and communal compared to that which takes place on lands classified as private. It is recommended that the relevant Malian governmental regulatory and enforcement agencies implement and enforce existing environmental laws with respect to land and environment. These agencies should adopt participatory and sustainable approaches to land and natural resources management for improved food and environmental security.
Highlights
Land use as a common natural resource has jeopardized environmental security and property right in developing countries [1]
The study findings indicated that most of the land under gold-mining was owned by the government followed by community and private
The sampling technique that was employed in this study considered artisanal gold mining as a factor that caused impacts on social economic functions of the natives of Sikasso region
Summary
Land use as a common natural resource has jeopardized environmental security and property right in developing countries [1]. Majority of artisanal gold-mining is exploited as common resources under the property right of community. Artisanal gold mining exploitation is under community right in term of common resources in this country. There is an exploitation type called “draguage” (excavator system) which is used by private firms contracted privately by the government of Mali. These are usually called accustomed laws and rights In other words, they are first occupants, habitants and comers at the place. They are first occupants, habitants and comers at the place These rights and laws are followed up and monitored by traditional chief of villages, sub-counties and counties undertaking the government right. This study was undertaken to assess the land ownership types of artisanal gold mining area of Farabacoura, Yanfolia District in Mali
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