Abstract:
The livelihoods of millions of households in developing nations are supported by mining, with artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) playing a particularly important role, the environmental deterioration it causes can be minimized through the implementation of appropriate mitigation measures. Governments tried their best in introducing tools such as EIA that can help for environmentally friendly mining. However, the negative impacts persist. This study focuses on Gatumba sector an area degraded by mining since the colonial period. The research aims to:1) describe major environmental problems caused by mining activities in Gatumba Sector,2) assess the extent to which Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) addresses these environmental problems, and 3) propose strategies for improving the effectiveness of EIA in mitigating environmental impacts of mining activities in Gatumba Sector. A survey of 150 households shows that 68% report increased mining over the past five years. The most frequent impacts include soil erosion and landscape degradation (38%), soil bareness (30%), vegetation loss (14%), deforestation (10%), seasonal flooding (4%), and waste management issues (4%). These findings were confirmed through spatial analysis using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) integrated with GIS and remote sensing. Results show annual soil erosion ranging from 1,415 to 97,845,376 tons/ha/year. Land use/land cover (LULC) analysis (2017–2025) revealed forest loss of 154.4 ha and an increase in bare land by 94.8 ha. The study found that while EIAs are legally required and provide a framework for predicting impacts, their implementation and monitoring remain weak. A majority of participants believe that mining activities are not well regulated. Finally, the findings indicate that respondents view the government as the most appropriate actor to take the lead in environmental management. The following main actions should be undertaken by different stakeholders involved in mining activities: reforestation, encouraging environmental compliance, extending explorations works to determine mineral reserves, and investing in a massive capacity building of mine operators on various environmental aspects. RNRA/RMB are also recommended to specialize oriented inspections
