Environmental implications of artisanal and small-scale gold mining activity within the kokumbo department (central côte d’ivoire) and its impact on the local population

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has emerged as a vital economic activity in the Kokumbo department of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, supporting the livelihoods of numerous local communities. This research seeks to explore the environmental impacts of ASGM activities in Kokumbo, including soil and water resource degradation, and their subsequent effects on public health, agriculture, and biodiversity. Through qualitative and quantitative assessments, the study examines how these environmental challenges disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, who rely heavily on natural resources for daily sustenance. 1631 (90.41% of respondents) adhered to the research to provide information about the situation and stated that ASGM affected the surrounding population’s lifes. A total of 21 plant species belonging to 11 families were identified before the mining activity in the Kokumbo area and the family with more species is the Anacardiaceae with 7 species. These species become rare or disappear in the mining area and the surrounding village. The results showed that the ASGM activities contaminated the farmland, allowing many animals to be extinct. The most endangered class are mammals including three (3) extinct species in the family Bovidae, two (2) species in the family Suidae, and two (2) in the family Felidae. Our study revealed that the most common disease that affected the local population is malaria, about 49.55%, and 12.49% of people suffered from an intestinal infection. The findings highlight the urgent need for sustainable mining practices, regulatory frameworks, and community awareness programs aimed at mitigating the environmental consequences of ASGM while promoting responsible economic development.