The impact of gold panning on vegetation in the Kangaba district

Artisanal gold mining is an activity that provides a livelihood for millions of people worldwide, and dozens of countries in Africa depend on it. In Mali, this activity is carried out by between 400 and 500,000 miners. It takes place in three gold-bearing districts of Mali, including the Kangaba prefecture. The aim of this study is to draw the attention of the authorities and decision-makers to the effects of gold panning on vegetation. Specifically, it will seek to characterise gold panning and analyse its effects on vegetation. To achieve these objectives, we collected socio-economic data and conducted unstructured interviews. The processing of Landsat satellite images from 1985 and 2010 enabled us to determine land-use classes, spatial transformation processes and the calculation of spatial indices. This methodology allowed us to demonstrate that all economic activities in the prefecture are closely linked to gold panning. The organisation of gold panning and the techniques used are likely to destroy the environment in general and the vegetation in particular.