Biodiversity & Ecology

Journal of the Division Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology of Plants , Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg.

Risk management Research article Open Access

Impact of mining on the environment and water resources in northeastern Angola

Lopes Ferreira-Baptista*, José Manuel, Paulo Francisco Aguiar, Maria João Pereira

Article first published online: 24 April 2018

DOI: 10.7809/b-e.00318

*Corresponding author contact: loferbaptista@gmail.com

<< Volume 6

Biodiversity & Ecology (Biodivers. Ecol.)

Climate change and adaptive land management in southern Africa - assessments, changes, challenges, and solutions,
edited by Rasmus Revermann, Kristin M. Krewenka, Ute Schmiedel, Jane M. Olwoch, Jörg Helmschrot & Norbert Jürgens

Volume 6, pages 155-159, April 2018

PDF (1.4 MB)

English

Abstract: Mining, and particularly diamond exploitation, is one of the most ancient human economic activities and even today plays a crucial role in the economy of many countries. Our study aimed to inventory and map mining activities in the northeastern provinces of Angola (Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul) to enable the subsequent assessment of their impact on the natural environment and on water resources. To achieve this aim, we carried out several fi eld campaigns. Various effects on the environment have been observed, ranging from visual impact to deforestation, soil depletion, and changes in topography. Water resources are the most aff ected part of the ecosystem, resulting in pollution of lakes and rivers, changes in river courses, silting of streams, and the dry-up of some watercourses. As a whole, our observations show that the eff ects of mining activities on water pollution in rivers impact large parts of the northeastern provinces of Angola and reach the border areas of the inner Congo Basin.

Portuguese

Resumo: A mineração, especialmente a exploração de diamantes, é uma das actividades económicas antigas dos homens e, até hoje, desempenha um papel crucial na economia de muitos países. Este estudo teve como objectivo efectuar um inventário e o mapeamento das actividades mineiras nas províncias do Nordeste de Angola de Lunda Norte e Lunda Sul, para uma posterior avaliação do seu impacto no meio natural e nos recursos hídricos. Para atingir esse objectivo, foram realizadas várias campanhas de campo. Observaram-se vários tipos de impactos no ambiente, desde impactos visuais e desmatamento, depleção do solo e mudanças na topografi a. Os recursos hídricos são a parte mais afectada do ecossistema, resultando em poluição de lagos e rios, mudanças nos cursos de rios, assoreamento de riachos e extinção de alguns cursos de água. De um modo geral, as observações mostram que os efeitos das actividades de mineração sobre a poluição das águas dos rios cobrem quase todas as partes das províncias do Nordeste de Angola, e atingem as áreas fronteiriças da bacia interna do Congo.

Suggested citation:
Ferreira-Baptista, L., Manuel, J., Francisco Aguiar, P. & João Pereira, M. (2018) Impact of mining on the environment and water resources in northeastern Angola In: Climate change and adaptive land management in southern Africa – assessments, changes, challenges, and solutions (ed. by Revermann, R., Krewenka, K.M., Schmiedel, U., Olwoch, J.M., Helmschrot, J. & Jürgens, N.), pp. 155-159, Biodiversity & Ecology, 6, Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek. doi:10.7809/b-e.00318