TITLE:
Investigation into the Impacts of Artisanal Gold Mining on the Livelihood Foundation of Baomahun Community in Southern Sierra Leone
AUTHORS:
Ishmail Sheriff, Alhaji Brima Gogra, Bashiru M. Koroma
KEYWORDS:
Artisanal Mining, Livelihood Foundation, Baomahun, Questionnaire, Environment
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Resources,
Vol.9 No.2,
February
26,
2018
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.