Corrida do ouro na África Ocidental: impactos ecológicos e na saúde na sub-bacia do Rio Bougouriba, Burkina Faso

Autores

  • Assonsi Soma PhD in Geography, Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, Joseph KI-ZERBO University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18472/SustDeb.v15n3.2024.55729

Palavras-chave:

gold rush. Bougouriba river sub-basin. ecological crisis. Environmental health impacts

Resumo

Num contexto em que a extração artesanal de ouro se expande rapidamente na África Ocidental, e particularmente em Burkina Faso, o debate centra-se nos impactos positivos e negativos dessa atividade no ambiente e nos seres humanos. Este artigo analisa as alterações ambientais, a crise ecológica e os impactos na saúde humana causados pela extração de ouro na bacia hidrográfica do Rio Bougouriba, no sudoeste do país. Para tal, foi adotada uma metodologia que combinou a coleta, o tratamento e a análise geoespacial de dados de 100 pessoas escolhidas aleatoriamente nos vários locais de garimpo. Os resultados mostram que as ferramentas e os produtos químicos utilizados pelos garimpeiros causam danos quase irreversíveis aos recursos naturais e criam riscos de doenças para os próprios garimpeiros, para as pessoas que vivem nas aldeias vizinhas e para os animais. Apesar dos efeitos nocivos perceptíveis, a garimpagem de ouro é vista como um “mal necessário” nessa bacia. O estudo sugere que o setor deve ser mais bem supervisionado, a fim de reduzir o impacto negativo no ambiente e na saúde dos mineiros e das comunidades vizinhas.

Biografia do Autor

  • Assonsi Soma, PhD in Geography, Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, Joseph KI-ZERBO University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

    Dr. SOMA Assonsi is a Geographer/ Advisor in Territorial Planning and Local Development/ Lecturer/Researcher, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geography at Joseph KI-ZERBO University. He has also been Deputy Director General of Territorial Development at the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Forecasting since May 2023. His field of research covers land use planning, urban planning, territorial vulnerability analysis, natural and technological risk management and territorial resilience, Geographic Information Systems, engineering and territorial marketing. Dr. SOMA is the author of some thirty scientific articles, published or in progress, on a number of themes, including the fragility of territories linked to security, humanitarian and health crises. He has also taken part in a number of national and international conferences and panels, moderating and moderating papers. In addition, Dr SOMA is a member of several scientific and local development associations, notably the Society of Knowledge in Geography of Burkina (SOSAGEB), where he holds the position of General Secretary, and the Association Action pour le Développement Local, where he holds the position of President.

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Publicado

2024-12-21

Como Citar

Corrida do ouro na África Ocidental: impactos ecológicos e na saúde na sub-bacia do Rio Bougouriba, Burkina Faso. (2024). Sustainability in Debate, 15(3), 260-277. https://doi.org/10.18472/SustDeb.v15n3.2024.55729

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