Spatial Assessment of Impacts of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining on Land Cover and Environment, Batouri, Eastern Cameroun

Artisanal and small-scale mining affects the quality and components of the environment in the Batouri area in different ways. Activities interfere with air, soil, water, fauna and forest resources. This study seeks to assess the impacts of mining on the environment using a combination of spatial analysis, questionnaires administration and Leopold’s grid of impact assessment. The impacts of mining on physical environment include air pollution by emission of dusts and fumes from engines, soil and subsoil degradation by earthworks and release of wastewater containing chemicals from companies. Destruction of habitats; decrease in quantity of forested area since the arrival of mining companies have been observed. Aquatic fauna is threatened by high turbidity and death of fishes. Government bodies must ensure permanent monitoring and environmental audit to check the compliance of mining companies and their activities with regulations. Keywords: Artisanal and Small-scale mining, spatial analysis, Environment; impacts, Batouri