Empowering Communities for Sustainable Mine Rehabilitation in Guinea
A training program held in Guinea in May 2025 brought together community representatives from the Kindia and Boké regions to explore sustainable and inclusive practices for mine closure and rehabilitation.
30 July 2025
Facilitated by ASI, IPAF members, and hosted by KDF, the program focused on equipping participants with practical knowledge of bauxite mining operations and the steps involved in effective mine rehabilitation. Training activities included site visits, technical workshops, group role-plays, and hands-on fieldwork using a custom-developed app to assess vegetation and ecological health in rehabilitated areas. Discussions emphasised integrating traditional ecological knowledge with scientific methods to support successful mine closure outcomes and long-term land use planning.
Participants stressed the need for local communities to play an active role in rehabilitation planning and monitoring to ensure outcomes reflect cultural, ecological, and livelihood priorities leading to successful mine closure. Key learnings included establishing biodiversity-rich rehabilitation zones, creating water retention features like ponds, and using transects to monitor vegetation regrowth over time. The program culminated in recommendations to strengthen the ASI Performance Standard by elevating community-led approaches, particularly in relation to Free, Prior and Informed Consent.
Outcomes of the project include the development of technical and training manuals, a community-focused monitoring app, and plans for a demonstration rehabilitation site and seed orchard to support climate resilience and community livelihoods.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
