DOUMBOUYA Ibrahima Kalil

Affiliated CEAs:
Institut Supérieur des Mines et Géologie de Boké.

Thesis supervisor: Marc VINCHES
IMT Mines Alès, France
marc.vinches@mines-ales.fr

Thesis co-supervisor: Ahmed Amara KONATE
Institut Supérieur des Mines et Géologie de Boké,
konateahmeda@gmail.com

Other contributors to thesis supervision: Anna DESSERTINE
IRD-UMR PRODIG - INAU, Rabat Morocco,
anna.dessertine16@gmail.com
Juliette CERCEAU, IMT Mines Alès, France
juliette.cerceau@mines-ales.fr
Odile BRUNEEL, IRD-Université - Montpelier INAU, France
odile.bruneel@ird.fr

Start date: 01/11/2021
Anticipated date of thesis defense: December 2024

Project title:
Assessment of the environmental and social impact of artisanal gold mining activities in the Siguiri prefecture, Republic of Guinea: multidisciplinary analysis using Remote Sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS) and community-based approach.

Summary of scientific project: 

Since the beginning of the 21st century, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in West Africa has undergone significant intensification and development, largely due to rising gold prices and the mechanization of ore extraction and processing techniques. This artisanal mining development has led to profound transformations in rural areas, including socio-technical trajectories, socio-economic dynamics, as well as the environment, with consequences such as pollution, land cover and occupation change, soil degradation, etc. The aim of this thesis is to analyze these changes and assess their impact on territories in Upper Guinea, using a multidisciplinary approach.

Summary of results obtained :

Artisanal gold mining in Upper Guinea is an activity that dates back several centuries, and is now widely practised and intensified. Customary authorities have historically exercised, and continue to exercise, control over social organization in rural areas, including activities linked to artisanal gold mining. However, the introduction of mechanized practices and the challenges of regulating these new methods have led to significant transformations in the socio-technical dynamics of this activity. Our results show that, in the specific context of ASGM in Upper Guinea, in contrast to radical innovations, small-scale innovations - i.e. "low noise" or "low technology" innovations - are more likely to bring about a profound and sustainable socio-economic transformation of the rural environment.

Analysis of satellite images covering the period from 2008 to 2023 reveals a significant expansion in artisanal gold mining activities. The surface area of gold mining sites has increased from 68 hectares in 2008 to 1,324 hectares in 2023, representing an increase of 2,001%. A period of rapid intensification was observed between 2008 and 2012, followed by a more moderate expansion until 2023. This mining development poses a major threat to the environment, leading to soil degradation, destruction of savannah vegetation cover and cashew plantations, and deterioration in water quality. In addition, overexploitation of the sites compromises the possibility of restoring vegetation or reusing the land for agricultural purposes.