Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto 603-8047, Japan.
Graduate School of Science & Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep 7;18(18):9441. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18189441.
Mining sites development have had a significant impact on local socioeconomic conditions, the environment, and sustainability. However, the transformation of camp-type artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sites with large influxes of miners from different regions has not been properly evaluated, owing to the closed nature of the ASGM sector. Here, we use remote sensing imagery and field investigations to assess ASGM sites with large influxes of miners living in mining camps in Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia, in 1995-2020. Built-up areas were identified as indicators of transformation of camp-type ASGM sites, using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, from the time series of images obtained using Google Earth Engine, then correlated with the prevalent gold market price. An 18.6-fold increase in built-up areas in mining camps was observed in 2020 compared with 1995, which correlated with increases in local gold prices. Field investigations showed that miner influx also increased after increases in gold prices. These findings extend our understanding of the rate and scale of development in the closed ASGM sector and the driving factors behind these changes. Our results provide significant insight into the potential rates and levels of socio-environmental pollution at local and community levels.
矿区的发展对当地的社会经济状况、环境和可持续性产生了重大影响。然而，由于小规模采金（ASGM）行业的封闭性，对于人口大量涌入的营地型 ASGM 矿区的转型还没有得到适当的评估。在这里，我们使用遥感图像和实地调查来评估印尼哥伦打洛省博纳波隆县矿区营地中大量涌入的矿工的 ASGM 矿区。利用 Google Earth Engine 获得的多时相图像的归一化植被指数，将建成区作为矿区营地转型的指标，然后与当时普遍存在的黄金市场价格相关联。与 1995 年相比，2020 年矿区营地的建成区面积增加了 18.6 倍，这与当地黄金价格的上涨有关。实地调查显示，金价上涨后，矿工涌入也有所增加。这些发现扩展了我们对封闭的 ASGM 行业发展速度和规模以及这些变化背后驱动因素的理解。我们的研究结果为了解当地和社区层面的社会环境污染的潜在速度和水平提供了重要的见解。
