The Impact of Mining on the Environment
In some African countries, environmental problems and social issues caused by illegal and legal mining have led to protests and conflicts between mining companies and communities around mining areas.
I was first exposed to the reality of illegal mining and its negative impact on local indigenous tribes through the case of the Yukpa people of Colombia.
Mining is the process of extracting useful minerals from the surface of the Earth, including the seas.
The Yukpa people of Colombia
The Yukpa people are an Amerindian Indigenous ethnic group from Colombia. They are semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers, fishers, and farmers and survive on what nature provides them with. Before the arrival of the Spanish, their ancestral territory extended from the western side of the Cesar River, in Colombia, to the eastern side of Lake Maracaibo, in Venezuela. They gradually started losing their land to European colonists.
In June 2023, I met with two Yukpa leaders, not far from Brighton, UK, in Stamner Park. The event that brought us together was a beautiful solidarity festival organised in collaboration with some local communities. The Yukpa travelled from Colombia to Europe to denounce Glencore - a mining company that had come to their territory from Europe and had been mining in their land without obtaining their Free, Prior, Informed Consent (Known as FPIC). This company used the opportunity of an armed conflict to come in. For the Yukpa, Glencore is not only putting their community at risk but also disrespecting Mother Nature. Their connection to nature is at the cornerstone of their community. Therefore they believe it needs to be protected.
The multinational companies Glencore Prodeco and Drummond (together with ANLA, Corpocesar and the Directorate for FPIC of the Ministry of the Interior) have removed over 10,000 hectares of land from the Los Motilones forest reserve to enable mining. This particular land traditionally belonged to the Yukpa. When I met the two leaders from this tribe, they were denouncing the atrocities, and raising awareness of the consequences of the actions of these big companies, both of their community and on nature.
Because of these companies and their mining activities rivers have dried up, and rivers happen to be the most important source of protein for the Yukpa.
The Yukpa are, unfortunately, not the only indigenous tribe or community facing a similar issue.
Illegal mining
Illegal mining is the extraction of precious metals without following the proper procedures to participate in legal mining activity. This issue can have a significant impact on one country’s economic growth.
Sierra Leone is a country blessed with an abundance of natural resources. Although this attribute has the potential to change the country for the better if managed well, it has not, so far, been benefiting the country. The illegal mining of minerals in different parts of the country has torn down many communities, leading to land degradation, reducing the potential for agriculture and leading to food insecurity.
Sierra Leone and illegal mining
Illegal mining in Sierra Leone has been compromising many major rivers within the country, posing a threat to water security.
The Pampana River in the north, the Sewa and Taia Rivers in the south, and the Moa River in the east of Sierra Leone have all been affected by illegal mining activities with long-term consequences for drinking water, biodiversity and health. Not only for local communities but for the majority of Sierra Leoneans.
Within the country and for years now, many different bodies such as the Environment Protection Agency (EPA-SL), the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), the Sierra Leone Police Force (SLP), the Office of National Security (ONS) and amongst other have partnered to eliminate illegal mining. From regional raids to law enforcement and more monitoring of the situation. Main districts within the country like Bo, Kenema, and Kailahun which are very tempting for illegal miners are now more protected.
Illegal mining in rivers and bodies of water has resulted in more health hazards. Pollution from harmful chemicals has increased and poses huge threats to aquatic ecosystems.
Water contamination with heavy metals, mainly mercury and cyanide (CN) is one of the worst consequences of industrial mines and illegal mining. Rivers and other aquatic environments around illegal public mines tend to be contaminated by mercury in considerably high levels. When mercury and cyanide get into water bacteria change and become harmful (mercury changes into a form called methylmercury) and is then absorbed by tiny aquatic organisms and fish. It increases mortality and poses a huge risk for aquatic life.
In Sierra Leone, many still use rivers as their main source of water, for washing and cooking for instance. It is also one of their main sources of protein. Drinking water contaminated with mercury can damage the nervous system and kidneys. It is especially harmful to young children since it can enter their nervous system and interfere with brain development.
Areas around mining are also always subject to degradation, and it has been increasing excessively.
In Kailahun District, in the East of Sierra Leone, five illegal miners were recently arrested and turned over to regional police for further investigation after being discovered to be operating without valid licences.
The minister of mines, Timothy Kabbah, was also accused of secretly issuing illegal and unlawful licences to a Chinese mining company. Metals and Minerals Trading (SL) Limited has been listed as one of the illegal Chinese mining companies operating in Penguia Chiefdom, an area in south Sierra Leone. The exposure of the illegal Chinese gold mining operations in Penguia Chiefdom, Kailahun District made these accusations public. There were some catastrophic environmental and health problems reported. They resulted from the chemical entering into the streams which are the main sources of drinking water for the villages within and beyond the mining areas.
Unfortunately, the current economic situation is laying the ground for all these illegal activities to take place.
The Government has warned against illegal mining activities and has been calling for strong collaboration with relevant stakeholders for more sustainable development across the country.
The president has even said that these illegal mining minerals were exported raw to Asian and European countries at ridiculous prices without value for the country. He denounces the practice that has added to the unemployment rate in the country and hindered sustainable development.
Sierra Leone is a resource-rich country. Deposits of iron ore, diamonds, bauxite, rutile and gold are some of the rich resources available in the country. These resources are contributing to about 24% of the country’s GDP and over 80% of export income.
Despite being so rich in terms of natural resources, most local communities where these mines are located benefit little, if at all, from the revenues generated. If these mining companies manage to bring electricity to some rural communities, it is mainly used to supply the mine. It might also provide temporary rewards like temporary employment opportunities for youth coming from poor backgrounds and, yet again, these are temporary, but the benefits for these companies are long-lasting.
This illegal mining, mostly encouraged by foreigners and happening in various part of the country, has led to negative impacts on local communities leading to biodiversity loss, land degradation and loss of farmlands by reducing the potential for agriculture and threatening food security. Because of illegal mining activities the country is now dealing with excessive deforestation, water pollution, and soil erosion, and it’s also contributing to massive environmental pollution due to contamination from the use of chemicals.
Many Sierra Leoneans have been protesting against the environmental problems that illegal mining has caused.
I spoke with Joseph. A Sierra Leonean-born activist who has been protesting against illegal mining activities for years now, after he witnessed how it was impacting the forests within his country:
“Out of the 16 districts that we have here, I have visited 9 throughout my life. Year after year I have been able to witness our forests, especially in the provinces, disappearing. Illegal mining has been clearing out our country from our natural forest. Which has caused many other problems. It’s destroying large natural areas and our country is feeling it, especially during our rainy season. Because during the rainy season, the trees would absorb most of the excess water. Now, there are communities that used to have so much forest, and because illegal mining has taken away the trees, some of these communities are experiencing so much flooding. We have lost 30% of our tree cover since 2000.”
“During the rainy season, the forest serves as a water bank to supply the community people with good healthy drinking water during the dry season…but now that illegal mining has taken away the trees, some river banks will get dry during the drying season and the community people will also face big challenges with good drinking water.”
