Environmental impact assessment, land degradation and remediation in Nigeria: current problems and implications for future global change in agricultural and mining areas

Abstract

Natural and anthropogenic processes and products of mining affect quality of life in highly mineralised areas, such as the derelict Enyigba-Abakaliki agriculture-oriented lead–zinc mining area, which has degradation of land and groundwater resources. This study establishes that Nigeria and other developing nations should maximise the benefits and mitigate the negative impacts of adverse natural and mining activities so as to achieve poverty alleviation. Baseline data on the economic, fiscal, social, land and flora, as well as environmental impacts and plans were designed to take into consideration the ways and means for mine closure and remediation to reduce health, environmental, socio-cultural risks and to assess costs. Certain cultivated and wild plant species are suggested as heavy metal indicators for environmental monitoring. The findings show that communities need leadership, partnerships, sharing of experiences and support from all government levels to preserve land and groundwater resources. We must adopt broader policies in a coordinated fashion so as to cope with interrelated environmental and developmental problems, irrespective of the expansive uncertainty regarding the nature of these problems, particularly with respect to economically doubtful mining operations that can degrade our agricultural soils.

Keywords:

• environmental impacts
• land degradation
• remediation
• mining areas
• agricultural soils
• developing countries