In developing countries as Sub-Saharan African Countries, poverty and the environment are inextricably inter-twinned. Whereas the poor earn their livelihood mostly from the use of environmental resources, environmental degradation also threatens to worsen the plight of the poor. The poor in many rural areas earn their livelihood from forest, pastures, fisheries and land.

‘Understanding of the relationships is a prerequisite for enduring the fight against poverty. Yet, the central importance of environment for poverty reduction, and the economic case for pro-poor investment in environmental assets remain dishearteningly unfamiliar to many. As a result, the environmental concerns of the poor all too often are marginalised within the context of national development planning and effort to reach the MDGs.’

The respect for the rights of the poor in the determination of the use of environmental resources, sustainable government services and careful consideration of environmental concerns in the use of environmental resources will assist in ensuring sustainable source of livelihood for the poor.

The mining and petrochemical industry in Africa has of late witnessed a number of conflicts between community members on one side and the government and multi-national mining companies on the other side. These conflicts can most of the time be attributed to the worsening of environmental degradation and the lack of improvement in the livelihood of people living in well-endowed mineral regions. In some mining areas of the region, the supposed economic spill over (to be generated through mining activities) to the poor never materialises. Hence the resultant conflict between the inhabitants living in the mining areas and the exploiters of minerals.

In Ghana illegal miners using unorthodox means have been degrading the environment and creating a conflict with the big mining companies whose concessions are being destroyed by these illegal miners. The approach to this problem has been to use force in driving these illegal miners from the concessions. This most of the time result in tension and commotion in some mining communities.

The respect for the rights of communities in mining areas will call for pragmatic measures to involve citizens in the negotiation for mining companies to operate in their respective communities. It should call for a joint effort by government and mining companies in the introduction of alternative sources of livelihood for communities affected by the operations of mining companies and the protection of the social and cultural heritage of these communities. Regulatory institutions, as the Environmental Protection Agency, should be strengthened to ensure the proper administration of Environmental Impact Assessment during the operation of these mining companies.

One alternative approach to this problem may be to introduce viable alternation sources of livelihood in these communities. This will ensure an improvement in the livelihood of people living in mining communities and ensure the maintenance of sound environmental principles in these communities. The adherence to environmental impact assessment principles by mining companies would enable them to identify the impact of their activities on the environment and to introduce the necessary mitigation measures.

At the national level, the integration of sound environmental principles in the development planning process would ensure sustainable development that would also cater for the needs of the poor. Countries’ Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) must be subjected to Strategic Environmental Assessment. Protection environmental resources will guarantee a sustained source of livelihood for the poor.

References:

1. www.povertyenvironment.net/pep

2. www.minesandcommunities.org/action/press372.htm