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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF LIMESTONE QUARRYING ON LIMESTONE DEPOSIT AREA
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
Limestone quarrying is a major economic activity in many developing countries including Nigeria. Nigeria is endowed with abundant mineral resources of international value, including gold, marble, gypsum, gemstones, iron ore, natural gas, topaz, coal, clay, lead, tar sand, construction stone and construction sand. While the exploitation of natural resources has traditionally been seen as a vital part of economic growth, it is now well recognized that concern for environmental and socio economic consequences must be included as a key component of development activities. In many developing nations like Nigeria, quarrying is an important contributor to the national economy.
However, the negative environmental impacts of quarrying are increasingly being recognized as critical (Bridge, 2004). In response, many companies, especially international ones, are embracing Corporate Social Responsibility as a fundamental component of resource extraction operations, including quarrying (Garriga and Mele, 2004). The quarrying sector may strengthen the economy at the national scale; it may also present an entirely new set of problems at the scale of the local community. Exercising social responsibility in small, remote centers, however, often means that international and transnational corporations must interact with rural or indigenous people who have strong emotional and historical links to the land (Garvin et al., 2009).
The socio-economic impacts are synonymous with adverse and benefits. It could include pressure on local housing, market and increase in community conflict and crime. The creation of supporting social infrastructure including schools, hospitals and so on may transform a previously remote area and investment in transport facilities may improve accessibility to other centers of economic activities, further enhancing its prospect for development. Indeed, governments frequently regard quarrying projects as an opportunity to ‘open-up’ peripheral regions. Impacts do not fall evenly on affected parties and areas. Although a particular project may be assessed as bringing a general benefit. Some groups and / or geographical areas may be receiving most of any adverse effects, the main benefits going to others elsewhere. There is also a distinction between actual and perceived impacts. Subjective perceptions of impacts may significantly influence the responses and decisions of people towards a proposed development. Modern quarrying methods are highly capital intensive by comparison with those prevailing in the 19th century. This limits not only the number, but also the type of job opportunities. Locally-recruited labour often lacks the skills required to operate complex machinery and management usually remains in the hands of imported expatriate personnel. This in turn creates an enclave mentality in which quarrying communities remain isolated from the wider society of the country. Many of the biggest disappointments have resulted from the failure of mineral processing and related downstream manufacturing to develop at or near the site of extraction. It is these activities which create the largest number of jobs and frequently the greatest profit. They are therefore, highly desirable from a policy perspective. It is not only governments in developing countries which have been frustrated by the minimal extent of downstream processing; state authorities within developed economies have had similar experiences. The contribution on people and culture/heritage within close proximity to the quarrying operation (host communities) by the industry should create an environment that will accept and encourage development (McDivitt and Jeffery, 1992).
Investigations carried out by Humann (2004) revealed the Luka community (South Africa) representatives staunchly opposed the proposed Impala open cast mine on the grounds that the community has not benefited from the company’s historical activities in the area and has not been adequately compensated for negative impacts caused by the company activities in the area. The research also revealed that the company efforts to communicate directly with community representatives in the local government ward committee, including constructing a small office building to facilitate community meetings and interaction with the company yielded little or no result due to tribal faction not until the company realizes that, given the new, increasing motives for community engagement, supporting legitimate representation structures in the community.
Statement of the problem
Limestone quarrying activities can led to health effects ranging from respiratory problems to mental disorders. Studies in Tanzania revealed that symptoms of heavy metal poisoning such as sensory disturbance, tremor, gingivitis, metallic taste, neurasthenia and night blindness are common (Harada et al., 1999). In the last five years, studies on environmental impact of limestone quarrying and processing in Sagamu (Sagamu – Ogun State, Nigeria) have revealed a declining kola nut output from the plantations within a few kilometres radius of the cement factory (Adekoya, 2003; Aigbedion, 2005). Exploitation and processing of minerals in a particular area creates cultural impacts, which involves the changes to norms, values and beliefs of individuals that guide and rationalize the cognition of themselves and their society (Burdge and Vanclay, 1996). 1.3 Significance of the study The aim of this project is to determine the environmental impact assessment of limestone quarrying in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state, interpret findings, analyze implications, and convey high level results and implications to national decision-makers for sustainable and better environment of all limestone deposit areas in Nigeria. 1.4 Objectives of the study This study was undertaken majorly to examine the environmental impact assessment of limestone quarrying in limestone deposit areas. Specific objectives of the study are:
To ascertain whether there is a significant environmental impact of limestone quarrying in limestone deposit areas.
To know whether the environmental impact assessment of limestone quarrying in limestone deposit area is accessible.
1.5 Research questions In the course of the study, the researcher seeks to provide suitable answers to the problem following the questions below: 1. Is there a significant environmental impact of limestone quarrying in limestone deposit areas? 2. Can the environmental impact assessment of limestone quarrying in limestone deposit area be accessed? 1.6 Research hypotheses Ho: Limestone quarrying has no significant environmental impact on limestone deposit areas. Hi: Limestone quarrying has significant environmental impact on limestone deposit areas. Ho: The environmental impact assessment of limestone quarrying in limestone deposit area is inaccessible. Hi: The environmental impact assessment of limestone quarrying in limestone deposit area is accessible. 1.7 Limitations of the study The study was carried out to investigate the environmental impact assessment of limestone quarrying in Ini Local Government Area. The study is limited to Ini Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State. This is because of the representative nature of all limestone deposit areas in Nigeria, proximity to the researcher, time and financial constraints. 1.8 Scope of the study This research work is on the environmental impact assessment of limestone quarrying in Ini Local Government Area with particular emphasis on how it impacts on quality standards of the soil and water in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. 1.9 Definition of terms Limestone: This is a hard sedimentary rock, composed mainly of calcium carbonate or dolomite, used as building material and in the making of cement. Limestone Quarry: This is a place where large blocks of naturally occurring sedimentary calcite or aragonite rock are cut from the earth, mainly for use in construction. Limestone Deposit Area: This is an area where limestone is found. Environmental Impact Assessment: This is a process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related socio-economic, cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse.
Feld man et al (2000) noted that participation provides a collaboration process by which community inhabitants reach common goals, engage in collective decision and create places and these places in turn served as materials expression of their collective efforts participation therefore implies negotiation rather that the dominancy of an externally set project agenda.
Thus, people become actors instead of being just beneficiaries (OECD), 1994 cited in (Morvixoxo, 2008). Enugu stone mining was a participation of stakeholders’, investors and the affected community. The land excavation was not be controlled by relevant authority’s form the municipality and peoples fully participated and exploit the natural resource without environmental consideration of their own benefits. Due to increased demand for stones, there was pressure on quarries by fully participation of all stalk holders and communities which lead to environmental degradation in Enugu. The collapse of quarries was due to poor methods and high demand of stones in the region. There is therefore need to formation of new strategies by stone quarrying companies to address the issues and impacts of such activities to the environment.
2.2.1 Land Use
Land use decision ultimately weigh the inherit trade-off between satisfying immediate human needs and unintended ecosystem consequences based societal values, where the ecological knowledge to asses these consequences is a prerequisite to assessing the full range of trade off involved in land-use decisions (Defiles et al,2004)Destructive land use in Enugu by stone quarrying imposes a huge economic cost on stone supply, land productivity and even water resources, infrastructure and ecological damage to ecosystem( Harji and Ibrekk 2001 ).
Land use activities were driven by the need for source of income to improve living standard and livelihoods. The study further asserts that stone quarrying, creates open space for bleeding grounds for mosquito which is a health hazard. The Enugu study examined the extent of stone quarrying as a land-use activity and its effects on the environment.
A study by (Fierner et al, 2005) to monitor the effectiveness of quarrying indicated that quarrying leaving open spaces, where ponds emerged due to stagnating waters .Most of these quarrying leave the land barren where no productive activity can take place. This was seen in the case study in Enugu stone quarrying in Enugu, where the land was left with a rugged landscape of no use.
A study case (Olson et al,2004 )on the root cause of stone quarrying on land use leads to land degradation and changing bio-diversity identified a number of critical process that play a big role effecting stone quarrying linkages to bio-diversity and land degradation. These process according to study play an important role in household decision making that affect land use and management, but are often overlooked in broad land use change analysis. Such process include national policies income diversification, gender roles and poverty levels .The Enugu stone quarrying was sought to find out how land use activities influence and affect the environment and human development.
According to study by (Harji and Ibrekk 2007) on the environment and quarrying management, the study notes that poor quarrying methods, resources overexploitation, increases intensity, of floods and affects ground water recharge on such quarries. The Enugu stone quarrying study determined whole land use on such area affects the surrounding community through collapse of such mines leading to loss of life and creating unnecessary flooding in the region.
2.2.2 Poverty and Power
Poverty is blessed with a rich vocabulary in all cultures and throughout history (Maxwell, 1999) the start of poverty in Nigeria is of great concern. Poverty reduction remains the country biggest challenge in meeting the millennium development goals by the 2015 deadline according to the latest United Nations assessment report.
Studies have clearly shown that there is in fact a link between poverty and resource degradation. (Shifaraw,2006,pg.6)reveals that in certain vulnerable system are the livelihood-environment link may develop into a downward spiral which demographic pressure is high and household lack access to appropriate technologies ,policies, markets and institutional framework. The further concluded that this limits adaptive responses and options available to resources users.
And hence impoverishment and resource degradation would ensure.
Their case study in Enugu stone quarrying was promoted by level of poverty of communities. Stones were over exploited due to lack of any other alternative methods of survival. The methods used in stone quarrying were poor and not well advanced. Most people encroach and scrabbled for the common resources. The link of stone quarrying and resource degradation is geared by poverty which needs to be paradigm shift in development focus in empowering people in resource management and environmental conservation.
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