Environmental Threat Assessment Framework for Mining Activities in Guinea: An Integrated Approach for Sustainable...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Geology
• Ecology

Background:

• Mining activities in Guinea, specifically bauxite and iron ore extraction, pose significant environmental challenges.
• Previous assessments have not comprehensively evaluated the multifaceted impacts on local ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the environmental consequences of mining in Guinea's Boke bauxite and Kerouane iron mining areas.
• To develop a framework for assessing environmental threats from mining operations.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data.
• Utilized a reference matrix to classify impacts on water, soil, noise, air, vegetation, fauna, and flora.
• Conducted data collection from October 2022 to January 2023.

Main Results:

• Elevated water pH, electrical conductivity, and turbidity observed in both regions.
• Soil analysis detected chromium, copper, nickel, and zinc.
• Noise levels exceeded guidelines, and high particulate matter (PM10) was recorded.
• The Kerouane project led to substantial habitat loss (3395 ha).

Conclusions:

• Mining activities in Guinea present significant environmental concerns requiring immediate attention.
• An integrated environmental threat assessment framework is proposed for comprehensive evaluation.
• Recommendations include developing an economic-environmental performance index and fostering policy-researcher collaboration for sustainable mining and climate change mitigation.