Environmental Evaluation of Small Scale Gold Mining in the Bonkani Region in the Upper East Area of Côted’Ivoire

Eboua Narcisse Wandan; Gnammytchet Barthelemy Koffi; Kouakou Bob Kouadio; Zoly Desiré Gomba

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14

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Environmental Evaluation of Small Scale Gold Mining in the Bonkani Region in the Upper East Area of Côted’Ivoire

Eboua Narcisse Wandan, Gnammytchet Barthelemy Koffi, Kouakou Bob Kouadio, Zoly Desiré Gomba

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 3, Issue 5)

Received: 14 June 2015 Accepted: 9 July 2015 Published: 21 October 2015

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Abstract

Artisanal mining is usually done by workers with limited understanding of the long term impacts of their activities on the environment and on their health and with limited capacity to mitigate the risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the environmental impact of this activity in the Department of Bouna where this activity has gained Importance. This study was done through data collection, interviews of miners, traders, and government services’ agents, and on site diagnosis. Six steps were inventoried on the mining sites: site prospection, digging holes, crushing mined ore, grinding of crushed ore, washing the flour after milling, and gold recovery with mercury. Among the activities on mining sites, 24% were found to present potential impact of major importance, 39% have potential impact of medium importance, and 37% have minor potential impacts. The major impacts are those impacting soil, landscape, and vegetation and water resources. These results showed that small scale gold mining significantly impacts the environment. As recommendation, it was proposed site rehabilitation by reforestation, the help of miners to use retors which are mercury traps or eventually mercury-free gold extraction technologies such as chlorination. A simple policy of solid and liquid waste management must be developed by site owners. They must ensure the education of miners and of the population living on mining sites on the importance of using and building effective systems for on-site sanitation. Besides that, programs focusing on HIV/STI prevention, with targeted interventions for high risk women must be implemented under private/public/NGO partnership. Since the resilience of the gold mining activities has proven to be one of the main sources of livelihoods in local communities of the extraction sites, the state should define a consistent policy of artisanal gold mining taking into account the environmental, social and health.

Published in	International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 3, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14
Page(s)	265-274
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Artisanal, Mining, Bouna, Cote d’Ivoire, Environnemental Impact

References

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[9]	Programme des Nations Unies pour l’environnement [9] (UNEP/PNUE). 2012. Réduire l’utilisation du mercure dans le secteur de l’orpaillage et de l’exploitation minière artisanale. Guide pratique. Disponible sur le site suivant: http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Portals/9/Mercury/Guide%20Practique%Reduire%20L’Utilisation.
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[14]	Tchindjang, M. (2009) : Cours en ligne sur les EIE. www.cm.refer.org.
[15]	Louppe, D. et Ouattara N. 1997. Influence du Karité sur les productions agricoles du Nord de la Côte d'Ivoire. Mémoire présenté au XIè Congrès forestier mondial à Antalya (Turquie) du 13 au 22 octobre 1997.
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[18]	Sawadogo, E, 2011..L'impact de l'exploitation artisanale de l'or: cas du site de Forafora dans la province de Poni. Université de Ouagadougou. [Rapport]: Mémoire de maîtrise en géographie.
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APA Style

Eboua Narcisse Wandan, Gnammytchet Barthelemy Koffi, Kouakou Bob Kouadio, Zoly Desiré Gomba. (2015). Environmental Evaluation of Small Scale Gold Mining in the Bonkani Region in the Upper East Area of Côted’Ivoire. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 3(5), 265-274. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14

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ACS Style

Eboua Narcisse Wandan; Gnammytchet Barthelemy Koffi; Kouakou Bob Kouadio; Zoly Desiré Gomba. Environmental Evaluation of Small Scale Gold Mining in the Bonkani Region in the Upper East Area of Côted’Ivoire. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2015, 3(5), 265-274. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14

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AMA Style

Eboua Narcisse Wandan, Gnammytchet Barthelemy Koffi, Kouakou Bob Kouadio, Zoly Desiré Gomba. Environmental Evaluation of Small Scale Gold Mining in the Bonkani Region in the Upper East Area of Côted’Ivoire. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2015;3(5):265-274. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14,
  author = {Eboua Narcisse Wandan and Gnammytchet Barthelemy Koffi and Kouakou Bob Kouadio and Zoly Desiré Gomba},
  title = {Environmental Evaluation of Small Scale Gold Mining in the Bonkani Region in the Upper East Area of Côted’Ivoire},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {265-274},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20150305.14},
  abstract = {Artisanal mining is usually done by workers with limited understanding of the long term impacts of their activities on the environment and on their health and with limited capacity to mitigate the risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the environmental impact of this activity in the Department of Bouna where this activity has gained Importance. This study was done through data collection, interviews of miners, traders, and government services’ agents, and on site diagnosis. Six steps were inventoried on the mining sites: site prospection, digging holes, crushing mined ore, grinding of crushed ore, washing the flour after milling, and gold recovery with mercury. Among the activities on mining sites, 24% were found to present potential impact of major importance, 39% have potential impact of medium importance, and 37% have minor potential impacts. The major impacts are those impacting soil, landscape, and vegetation and water resources. These results showed that small scale gold mining significantly impacts the environment. As recommendation, it was proposed site rehabilitation by reforestation, the help of miners to use retors which are mercury traps or eventually mercury-free gold extraction technologies such as chlorination. A simple policy of solid and liquid waste management must be developed by site owners. They must ensure the education of miners and of the population living on mining sites on the importance of using and building effective systems for on-site sanitation. Besides that, programs focusing on HIV/STI prevention, with targeted interventions for high risk women must be implemented under private/public/NGO partnership. Since the resilience of the gold mining activities has proven to be one of the main sources of livelihoods in local communities of the extraction sites, the state should define a consistent policy of artisanal gold mining taking into account the environmental, social and health.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Environmental Evaluation of Small Scale Gold Mining in the Bonkani Region in the Upper East Area of Côted’Ivoire
AU  - Eboua Narcisse Wandan
AU  - Gnammytchet Barthelemy Koffi
AU  - Kouakou Bob Kouadio
AU  - Zoly Desiré Gomba
Y1  - 2015/10/21
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 265
EP  - 274
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14
AB  - Artisanal mining is usually done by workers with limited understanding of the long term impacts of their activities on the environment and on their health and with limited capacity to mitigate the risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the environmental impact of this activity in the Department of Bouna where this activity has gained Importance. This study was done through data collection, interviews of miners, traders, and government services’ agents, and on site diagnosis. Six steps were inventoried on the mining sites: site prospection, digging holes, crushing mined ore, grinding of crushed ore, washing the flour after milling, and gold recovery with mercury. Among the activities on mining sites, 24% were found to present potential impact of major importance, 39% have potential impact of medium importance, and 37% have minor potential impacts. The major impacts are those impacting soil, landscape, and vegetation and water resources. These results showed that small scale gold mining significantly impacts the environment. As recommendation, it was proposed site rehabilitation by reforestation, the help of miners to use retors which are mercury traps or eventually mercury-free gold extraction technologies such as chlorination. A simple policy of solid and liquid waste management must be developed by site owners. They must ensure the education of miners and of the population living on mining sites on the importance of using and building effective systems for on-site sanitation. Besides that, programs focusing on HIV/STI prevention, with targeted interventions for high risk women must be implemented under private/public/NGO partnership. Since the resilience of the gold mining activities has proven to be one of the main sources of livelihoods in local communities of the extraction sites, the state should define a consistent policy of artisanal gold mining taking into account the environmental, social and health.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
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Author Information

Eboua Narcisse Wandan

Environmental Management Research Laboratory, Department of Water, Forestry and Environment, INP–HB, Yamoussoukro, C?te d’Ivoire
Gnammytchet Barthelemy Koffi

Civil Engineering Research Laboratory, Geosciences and Geographical Sciences, Department of Earth Sciences and Mineral Resources, INP–HB, Yamoussoukro, C?te d’Ivoire
Kouakou Bob Kouadio

Sustainable Forest Management Research Laboratory, Department of Water, Forestry and Environment, INP–HB, Yamoussoukro, C?te d’Ivoire
Zoly Desiré Gomba

Departmental Directorate of Water and Forests, Bouna, C?te d’Ivoire

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APA Style

Eboua Narcisse Wandan, Gnammytchet Barthelemy Koffi, Kouakou Bob Kouadio, Zoly Desiré Gomba. (2015). Environmental Evaluation of Small Scale Gold Mining in the Bonkani Region in the Upper East Area of Côted’Ivoire. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 3(5), 265-274. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14

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ACS Style

Eboua Narcisse Wandan; Gnammytchet Barthelemy Koffi; Kouakou Bob Kouadio; Zoly Desiré Gomba. Environmental Evaluation of Small Scale Gold Mining in the Bonkani Region in the Upper East Area of Côted’Ivoire. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2015, 3(5), 265-274. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14

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AMA Style

Eboua Narcisse Wandan, Gnammytchet Barthelemy Koffi, Kouakou Bob Kouadio, Zoly Desiré Gomba. Environmental Evaluation of Small Scale Gold Mining in the Bonkani Region in the Upper East Area of Côted’Ivoire. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2015;3(5):265-274. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14,
  author = {Eboua Narcisse Wandan and Gnammytchet Barthelemy Koffi and Kouakou Bob Kouadio and Zoly Desiré Gomba},
  title = {Environmental Evaluation of Small Scale Gold Mining in the Bonkani Region in the Upper East Area of Côted’Ivoire},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {265-274},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20150305.14},
  abstract = {Artisanal mining is usually done by workers with limited understanding of the long term impacts of their activities on the environment and on their health and with limited capacity to mitigate the risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the environmental impact of this activity in the Department of Bouna where this activity has gained Importance. This study was done through data collection, interviews of miners, traders, and government services’ agents, and on site diagnosis. Six steps were inventoried on the mining sites: site prospection, digging holes, crushing mined ore, grinding of crushed ore, washing the flour after milling, and gold recovery with mercury. Among the activities on mining sites, 24% were found to present potential impact of major importance, 39% have potential impact of medium importance, and 37% have minor potential impacts. The major impacts are those impacting soil, landscape, and vegetation and water resources. These results showed that small scale gold mining significantly impacts the environment. As recommendation, it was proposed site rehabilitation by reforestation, the help of miners to use retors which are mercury traps or eventually mercury-free gold extraction technologies such as chlorination. A simple policy of solid and liquid waste management must be developed by site owners. They must ensure the education of miners and of the population living on mining sites on the importance of using and building effective systems for on-site sanitation. Besides that, programs focusing on HIV/STI prevention, with targeted interventions for high risk women must be implemented under private/public/NGO partnership. Since the resilience of the gold mining activities has proven to be one of the main sources of livelihoods in local communities of the extraction sites, the state should define a consistent policy of artisanal gold mining taking into account the environmental, social and health.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Environmental Evaluation of Small Scale Gold Mining in the Bonkani Region in the Upper East Area of Côted’Ivoire
AU  - Eboua Narcisse Wandan
AU  - Gnammytchet Barthelemy Koffi
AU  - Kouakou Bob Kouadio
AU  - Zoly Desiré Gomba
Y1  - 2015/10/21
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 265
EP  - 274
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.14
AB  - Artisanal mining is usually done by workers with limited understanding of the long term impacts of their activities on the environment and on their health and with limited capacity to mitigate the risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the environmental impact of this activity in the Department of Bouna where this activity has gained Importance. This study was done through data collection, interviews of miners, traders, and government services’ agents, and on site diagnosis. Six steps were inventoried on the mining sites: site prospection, digging holes, crushing mined ore, grinding of crushed ore, washing the flour after milling, and gold recovery with mercury. Among the activities on mining sites, 24% were found to present potential impact of major importance, 39% have potential impact of medium importance, and 37% have minor potential impacts. The major impacts are those impacting soil, landscape, and vegetation and water resources. These results showed that small scale gold mining significantly impacts the environment. As recommendation, it was proposed site rehabilitation by reforestation, the help of miners to use retors which are mercury traps or eventually mercury-free gold extraction technologies such as chlorination. A simple policy of solid and liquid waste management must be developed by site owners. They must ensure the education of miners and of the population living on mining sites on the importance of using and building effective systems for on-site sanitation. Besides that, programs focusing on HIV/STI prevention, with targeted interventions for high risk women must be implemented under private/public/NGO partnership. Since the resilience of the gold mining activities has proven to be one of the main sources of livelihoods in local communities of the extraction sites, the state should define a consistent policy of artisanal gold mining taking into account the environmental, social and health.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

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