Evaluation of Environmental and Social Impacts of the Extraction Quarry of Raw Materials: Case of the ETOA Clay Quarry, Yaounde 3

Abstract

This research work is based on the evaluation of environmental and social impacts of the extraction quarry of raw materials at the Etoa clay quarry in Yaounde III and to propose measures aimed at reducing the different negative impacts. This work was carried out during the period of June 2015 to February 2016 followed by an appropriate methodology to meet the outlined objectives:(1) using the matrix of Leopold and Martin fecteau for the identification and evaluation of impacts, (2) cartography of study zone using ERDAS and QGIS and (3) questionnaire surveys to acquire water consumption demographics were all part of our study. It consisted of under taking site visits to the clay quarry, take pictures, and make household surveys and direct observations, analysis and interpretation of collected data. The results show that, extraction of clay from this area has negative impacts of 76.2% with the most significant on the environment being soil degradation, loss of biodiversity and farmland. Globally, most of the negative impacts are irreversible. The positive impacts are of 23.8% and the most important are, construction of acces road to the clay quarry, protection of the entire clay quarry, creation of job opportunities and increase in economic activities. As a measure to mitigate the negative impacts, shrubs will be planted round the site and exploitation will follow an exploitation plan to create acces in to the quarry. At the end of the extraction of clay this area will be transformed in to fish farming and those whose crops will be touched will be compensated. The different mitigation measures proposed are to reduce or if possible repair all the negative impacts (all the residual negative impacts will all have a minor importance) and this will lead to the acceptance of this project in the area on an environmental point of view and will contribute to the promotion of the sustainable development of Etoa and its environs.