Impacts of Iron Mining on Agroforestry Resources in Kalia – Faranah (Republic of Guinea, West Africa)

Aïssatou Lamarana Bah^1, , Achille Hounkpèvi¹, Madjariou Barry¹, Charles Enogo Sovogui¹, Abdoulaye Barry² and Mabetty Touré²

¹Institut Supérieur Agronomique et Vétérinaire Valery Giscard d'Estaing de Faranah, Département Agroforesterie, BP: 131 Faranah, Guinée

²Institut Supérieur Agronomique et Vétérinaire Valery Giscard d'Estaing de Faranah, BP: 131 Faranah, Guinea,

Cite this paper:
Aïssatou Lamarana Bah, Achille Hounkpèvi, Madjariou Barry, Charles Enogo Sovogui, Abdoulaye Barry and Mabetty Touré. Impacts of Iron Mining on Agroforestry Resources in Kalia – Faranah (Republic of Guinea, West Africa). Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health. 2025; 13(4):61-66. doi: 10.12691/jephh-13-4-1

Abstract

Mining, while generating economic and social benefits for local communities, causes major disruptions to landscape balances and particularly to agroforestry systems. This study, conducted at the Kalia mine site using a diachronic approach spanning three periods (pre-exploitation: 2000-2007, exploitation: 2007-2013, and post-exploitation: 2013-2020), aims to assess the effects of mining activity on agroforestry resources, land-use dynamics, and associated local perceptions. The methodology combined participatory surveys, field observations and analysis of multi-source satellite images. Ten agroforestry resources, grouped into four functional components, were identified in the study area. The results show that mining activities, including the construction of base-of-life infrastructure, the opening of tracks, and sounding operations, have resulted in marked degradation of vegetation and alteration of local ecosystem structures. For instance, the proportion of bare soils increased by 3-20% between the pre-exploitation period (2000-2007) and the post-exploitation period (2013-2020). In the same period, the proportion of fertile soils decreased from 18 to 10% between 2000 and 2020. Spatio-temporal analysis shows a significant regression of vegetation cover, inducing a loss of biodiversity and a weakening of ecosystem services. The area covered by bare soil increased by 24.99% (from 1001.2 to 5101.2 ha) between the pre-exploitation period and the exploitation period (2007-2013). After 2013, the area decreased to 2101.2 ha, referring to a reduction of 18.29%. Although some mitigation measures have been implemented by the mining company, their effectiveness remains limited in the short term. Given these findings, it is necessary to promote integrated territorial planning approaches, based on participatory impact assessment and sustainable co-management of natural resources, in order to reconcile mining development and agroecological resilience of territories.

Keywords:
Guinea land dynamics landscape balances biodiversity loss land recolonisation

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