Land Reclamation Project

Rehabilitating abandoned artisanal diamond mines to benefit communities

In countries like Sierra Leone, un-reclaimed diamond mines leave a legacy of land pockmarked by abandoned pits that collect water and waste and expose communities to health and safety risks from groundwater contamination, water-borne diseases, and drowning. Land that could be put to productive agricultural use lies fallow.

Through DDI@RESOLVE’s Land Reclamation Project, these post-mined lands become a development opportunity. Degraded lands are turned into useful land that supports farming, small fisheries, and other productive uses. We work with a field team of local Sierra Leonean experts and local partners, including women’s and youth groups, local leaders, government counterparts, and civil society associations.

With support from the Anglo American Foundation, the Land Reclamation Project was launched in January 2019 in the Kono District of Sierra Leone in partnership with traditional chiefs from Kamara, Nimokoro, Tankoro & Gbense Chiefdoms; local authorities, and national government counterparts from the National Minerals Agency; Environment Protection Agency; and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Over the last two years with our community partners we have reclaimed and repurposed 60 abandoned sites in Sierra Leone. The project has received acclaim from both government and community partners. With an additional 30 sites on track to be completed by the end of 2021, the project has attracted attention and there is interest in expanding to more communities and districts across the country.

Land Reclamation in Bumpeh community, Kono, Sierra Leone.