Advocacy for restoration of mining sites in the East Region of Cameroon

About the project

Deforestation as a result of mining contributes to climate change and ecosystem degradation. Repercussions of unrestored mines include herders losing their livestock in abandoned pits, loss of vegetation cover, loss of arable land, spread of diseases such as malaria due to stagnation of water, and the devastating loss of life in landslides triggered by unrehabilitated mining sites.

The project will work with public administration officials from relevant ministries (Mines, Environment, Public Health, and Territorial Administration), traditional authorities, mining, farming and pastoral communities, the media, and civil society organisations to advocate for the restoration of mining sites in the eastern region of Cameroon.

This will be achieved by:

• Producing a study report and a briefing note to raise awareness of the negative impact of the current ineffectiveness of the Mining Site Restoration fund and the gender disparities experienced
• Producing and broadcasting a documentary film on the negative environmental and human impacts of unrestored mining sites
• Organising a workshop with government officials, civil society organisations (CSOs), journalists and mining communities to disseminate the findings of the report and documentary
• Conducting joint field trips with officials from the Ministries of Mines, Environment and a local CSO to monitor mining sites and produce a report
• Organising investigative field trips for journalists
• Organising meetings with mining, farming and pastoral communities to make them aware of the Mining site rehabilitation fund and support them to engage with decision-makers
• Organising meetings with agropastoral communities to develop a declaration in favour of the restoration of mining sites.

As a result of the project, local communities will have developed well-defined perspectives regarding the rehabilitation of mining sites. Also awareness on the environmental and human impacts of unrestored mining sites among local administration and community members will be improved. Ultimately, it is hoped that the project will contribute to reducing health and environmental concerns among local communities in the East Region of Cameroon, through effective rehabilitation of mining sites.