The Impact of Gold Mining on Pastoral Communities Livelihoods in Butana Locality, Gedarif State, Sudan

Abstract

This study was carried out in Butana locality at Gedarif State-Sudan during the period (2018-2020). The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of gold mining exploration and activities on local pastoral community livelihoods. A questionnaire were designed to obtain data about gold mining and its impact on local community livelihoods. Four villages namely (Al-Bougaa, Al-Rubdaa- Abo-Golaa and Al-Tkoon) were selected through Random sampling technique from the total villages about (54 ) surrounding the gold mining sites. (60) households were randomly selected which constituted about (10%) of the total number of households in these villages, which approximately about (600) families. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version (20) and descriptive statistical methods were applied. The results showed that, the main source of income for the head of household was animal rearing (83.3%), (60%) of respondents were herding sheep, (68.3%) of respondents were practice grazing in sedentary pattern .Also the result indicated that (58.3%) of them in mining sites agreed that there are negative impacts of gold mining exploitations on rangeland soil, while (33.3%) of respondents stated that soil degradation occurs in the form of accelerated water erosion. The study concluded that there are negative impacts of gold mining exploitations on rangeland soil and vegetation cover. These could led to soil degradation and water erosion. Therefore, the study recommended that the awareness of local communities across the active mining areas should be increased in the study area.