Bauxite mining losing ground in Tanzania

Efforts to reclaim highly degraded nature reserves across the country have born fruits following intervention by the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund (EAMCEF).

The degradation has been caused by bauxite and alluvial gold mining in areas such as Amani and Chome Nature Reserves. EAMCEF Executive Director, Mr Francis Sabuni said the impact means less pressure on water sources for parts of the country that benefit from water originating from the Eastern Arc Mountains.

Shebomeza village chairman, Stanslaus Njovu, told this reporter that their area was evaded by illegal gold miners in 2003. "There were thousands of miners and small business people who set base here. The water source was destroyed plus the surrounding environment," he said.

He said Sakale village was the most affected out of 18 villages bordering the reserve. "The number of miners increased to over 10,000. The water sources started drying up," he said. Miners from across the country destroyed parts of the forest and some used mercury for their activities.

EAMCEF and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, intervened through sensitization and patrols. "These village committees are responsible for carrying-out regular patrols in the mining areas and the forest reserve," Mr Njovu said.

The chief conservator at Amani Nature Reserve (ANR) Ms, Anna Kijazi said the task was gigantic as they started filling the mining pits and planting new trees done in collaboration with the villagers." East Usambara catchment forests, according to Kijazi, play an imperative role in the socio-economic development of the people living along the coast in Tanga.

ANR is the main source of fresh water to over 400,000 people living in Tanga. "Despite the fact that we have controlled illegal mining activities in the forest, there are still a few people who sneak into the forest to mine," Kijazi said.

Artisanal miners invade the forests, causing severe environmental destruction by felling valuable ancient indigenous trees to dig up gold, as well as diverting streams from their original course to a man-made canal they have built in order to make way for mining.

The area is a source for streams and Zigi River. The conservator says by making income generating activities a reality, villagers were given seeds for trees to plant in nurseries.