An overview of land use conflicts in mining communities

This article examines the causes and impacts of land use conflicts between large-scale mines and community groups, and identifies a series of (land use) conflict resolution strategies for mine management. It is becoming increasingly challenging for mines, which demand a significant amount of area to operate, to coexist with the indigenous people of surrounding communities who depend largely upon the land for their livelihoods. The article contends, however, that most of the unavoidable environmental problems that occur at sites—namely erosion, sedimentation and vegetation removal—are largely dismissed by locals, but that poor communications and highly preventable environmental accidents have been, and continue to be, the chief causes of intense land use disputes between mines and surrounding communities. As governmental intervention is often miniscule, most of the responsibility rests with mine management to ensure that land use conflicts are effectively prevented and resolved. Whilst no de facto strategy exists that will completely satisfy both parties, quite conceivably, compromises can be reached if: community consultation between the parties is significantly improved; regional governments assume a leadership role in coordinating the efforts of international agencies; appropriate compensation packages are provided to impacted communities; and partnerships are forged between large- and small-scale miners.