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Detection of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Activities and Their Transformation Using Earth Observation, Nighttime Light, and Precipitation Data

Author

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  • Satomi Kimijima

    (Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto 603-8047, Japan)

  • Masayuki Sakakibara

    (Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto 603-8047, Japan
    Graduate School of Science & Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan)

  • Masahiko Nagai

    (Graduate School of Science and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, Ube 755-8611, Japan)

Abstract

The rapid growth of artificially constructed mining camps has negatively impacted the camps’ surrounding environment and the informal communities that have developed inside the camps. However, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is generally informal, illegal, and unregulated; thus, transformations of the mining activities and potential social-environmental problems resulting from these changes are not revealed. This study assesses the transformation of mining activities in camp-type ASGM sectors in Gorontalo, Indonesia, during 2014–2020 using remotely sensed data, such as Landsat series, nighttime light, and precipitation data obtained through Google Earth Engine. Results show that the combined growth of the built-up areas increased 4.8-fold, and their annual mean nighttime light increased 3.8-fold during 2014–2019. Furthermore, diverse increases in the sizes of area and nighttime light intensity were identified from the mining camps. Among the studied camps, since 2017, Motomboto camp 3 showed a particularly rapid change in activity regardless of the season of the year. Hence, these approaches are capable of identifying rapid transformations in the mining activities and provide significant insight into the socio-environmental problems originating from the closed and vulnerable camp-based ASGM sector. Our results also contribute to developing rapid and appropriate interventions and strengthening environmental governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Satomi Kimijima & Masayuki Sakakibara & Masahiko Nagai, 2021. "Detection of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Activities and Their Transformation Using Earth Observation, Nighttime Light, and Precipitation Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10954-:d:659141
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mozhgon Rajaee & Samuel Obiri & Allyson Green & Rachel Long & Samuel J. Cobbina & Vincent Nartey & David Buck & Edward Antwi & Niladri Basu, 2015. "Integrated Assessment of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Ghana—Part 2: Natural Sciences Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-41, July.
    2. Niladri Basu & Edith Clarke & Allyson Green & Benedict Calys-Tagoe & Laurie Chan & Mawuli Dzodzomenyo & Julius Fobil & Rachel N. Long & Richard L. Neitzel & Samuel Obiri & Eric Odei & Lauretta Ovadje , 2015. "Integrated Assessment of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Ghana—Part 1: Human Health Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-34, May.
    3. Rachel N. Long & Elisha P. Renne & Niladri Basu, 2015. "Understanding the Social Context of the ASGM Sector in Ghana: A Qualitative Description of the Demographic, Health, and Nutritional Characteristics of a Small-Scale Gold Mining Community in Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Satomi Kimijima & Masahiko Nagai, 2017. "Human Mobility Analysis for Extracting Local Interactions under Rapid Socio-Economic Transformation in Dawei, Myanmar," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Satomi Kimijima & Masayuki Sakakibara & Masahiko Nagai & Nurfitri Abdul Gafur, 2021. "Time-Series Assessment of Camp-Type Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Sectors with Large Influxes of Miners Using LANDSAT Imagery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-14, September.
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    8. Saldarriaga-Isaza, Adrián & Villegas-Palacio, Clara & Arango, Santiago, 2013. "The public good dilemma of a non-renewable common resource: A look at the facts of artisanal gold mining," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 224-232.
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    1. Satomi Kimijima & Masayuki Sakakibara & Masahiko Nagai, 2022. "Characterizing Time-Series Roving Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Activities in Indonesia Using Sentinel-1 Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-14, May.
    2. Satomi Kimijima & Masayuki Sakakibara & Masahiko Nagai, 2022. "Investigation of Long-Term Roving Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Activities Using Time-Series Sentinel-1 and Global Surface Water Datasets," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-13, May.

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