An unregulated quarrying wreaks havoc on the local environment.

 


     workers at quarry site.                credit: Perez Dotse


Unregulated stone quarry is transforming a once verdant hill into a landscape, leaving behind exposed rocks and soil. Residents living near the quarrying site are witnessing the rapid degradation of their environment firsthand.

The once-fertile ground is now exposed and barren, revealing the earth's embrace.
The people of Kwabenya are the resident humans that work at the quarrying site. Few of them shared their experiences.

According to Daavi, a worker at the quarrying site who is involved in the stone quarrying activity, she does stone quarrying to earn a living for herself and her two kids, who are currently at the university. She does that due to the high unemployment rate in the country.

A resident living close to the quarry site mentioned bitterly that the stone quarrying activity is rapidly destroying and degrading the environment and land.

The lack of regulations governing these operations allows for unchecked expansion, with no safeguards in place to prevent further damage to the land.

This activity has resulted in wildlife fleeing and plants struggling to survive in the compacted and disturbed earth. Plants that once lived in a fertile, rich soil now struggle to survive.

      polluted water.                       Credit: Perez Dotse

In addressing this issue to promote sustainable building practices, adopting and enforcing green building standards such as LEED [Leadership In Energy And Environmental Design] can promote and ensure new constructions that are energy efficient and environmentally responsible.

Promoting restoration and rehabilitation projects for areas affected by quarrying can help restore the ecological balance and provide new habitats for displaced wildlife.

Encouraging the use of recycled and reclaimed materials in construction is energy efficient and environmentally responsible.

By embracing sustainable building and construction practices, the industry can significantly reduce its environmental impact. This not only protects our landscape but also creates healthier living spaces and promotes long-term resource availability.

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