文章基本信息

标题：A call to halt destructive, illegal mining in Zimbabwe
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作者：Mwazvita T.B. Dalu ; Ryan J. Wasserman ; Tatenda Dalu 等
期刊名称：South African Journal of Science
印刷版ISSN：0038-2353
电子版ISSN：1996-7489
出版年度：2017
卷号：113
期号：11-12
页码：2-2
DOI：10.17159/sajs.2017/a0242
语种：English
出版社：The Foundation for Research Development
摘要：Amidst the socio-economic meltdown in Zimbabwe, increased illegal mining activities on recently discovereddiamond and gold deposits have given local people a source of livelihood. The problem of illegal gold mining isfast spreading through the Eastern Highlands and other parts of the country, as hundreds of artisanal gold minersswarm to the area, tearing up natural forests and plantations. Illegal mining operations are now rampant in theChimanimani Mountains, a narrow belt located on the eastern Zimbabwean/western Mozambican border. The hillyand generally inaccessible nature of these mountains has preserved much of the native flora and fauna, includingsome endemic or near endemic animals and plants, 1 and thus they are an important habitat. The highlands arealso a crucial international catchment and a major water source for thousands of families dependent on agricultureand fishing for their livelihoods. However, with an estimated 400 000 miners now operating illegally in Zimbabwe, 2the cumulative mining activities represent a major threat to people’s livelihood security and to the integrity of thiscrucial catchment, habitat and associated river systems.