OUAGADOUGOU – Minister of Environment, Roger Baro, announced plans to remove classified forests from the mining cadastre to safeguard them from the adverse impacts of gold mining. This initiative is being undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines.
According to Burkina Information Agency, during an interview with Sidwaya, Minister Baro explained that the decision aims to prevent the issuance of mining permits in these protected areas. “In simple terms, if you want an operating permit or a mining exploration permit, we can no longer give you authorization as long as your permit is in a classified forest,” Baro stated. He emphasized that the effort to finalize the removal of these forests from the mining register is near completion.
The move is part of a broader strategy to reduce environmental degradation in Burkina Faso, as the nation grapples with the ecological costs of gold mining. By excluding these forests from mining activities, the government hopes to preserve vital ecosystems and biodiversity.