Small-Scale Mining and Indirect Pathways of Land-Use and Land-Cover Change Beyond Mine Sites: Evidence from Msaginia Forest Reserve, Tanzania

Abstract

Objectives: Small-scale mining can influence forest landscapes beyond areas directly occupied by mine workings through interconnected demographic, livelihood, resource-use, and infrastructure pathways.
Background: This study assessed land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) and examined indirect pathways associated with small-scale mining in and around Msaginia Forest Reserve, Mpanda District, Katavi Region, Tanzania.
Methodology: A mixed-methods case-study design combined Landsat-based LULC analysis for 1990, 2007, and 2023 with a household survey of 96 respondents, 27 key-informant interviews, two focus-group discussions, and field observations.
Results: Agricultural land increased from 5,136 ha (7%) in 1990 to 23,712 ha (30%) in 2023, while woodland declined from 40,572 ha (52%) to 30,015 ha (39%) and bushland declined from 29,286 ha (38%) to 17,052 ha (22%). The mapped mining/bare-land class increased from 7 ha to 1,797 ha. In the regression analysis, agricultural activities (B = 1.006, p = 0.002), migration (B = 4.12, p = 0.006), charcoal/fuelwood collection (B = 2.001, p = 0.003), and infrastructure development (B = 3.40, p = 0.001) were positively and significantly associated with LULCC, whereas logging/timber harvesting was not statistically significant (p = 1.000). In addition, 70.8% of respondents reported that a migrant-miner influx exacerbated land-use change.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that the landscape influence associated with small-scale mining extends beyond mine sites through population movement, settlement and agricultural demand, forest-resource use, and infrastructure development. The study highlights the need for integrated forest monitoring that considers both direct mining disturbance and associated changes in settlement, agriculture, energy use, timber demand, and infrastructure.