The Impact of Stone Quarrying on the Environment: the Case of Gondar City Administration, North western Ethiopia

Abstract

In this research for the construction purpose and economic improvement, increase in demand for stone related supplies (stone quarrying) and consequently had adverse environmental impacts.The research was aimed to assess the impact of stone quarrying onthe environment. The study area was located in north-west Ethiopia Gondar city administration in 5 rural kebeles. Regarding to the research methods and methodology the researcher used both qualitative and quantitative approaches & descriptive type of research design was applied. Sample size was determined by using the formula proofed by Israel (1992) and also used sub-city organization cluster, random and purposive sampling techniques. The data collection methods were primary and secondary (questionnaire, interview and field observation) and both non spatial & spatial data analysis. Thus the result of the study wereland use land cover changes, affected agricultural land with reduction of products, blockage of free moment of animals and affects grazing land and so on. In general disturbance of natural landscape is the major environmental problems called land degradation in the study area As respondents; these impacts werehappened due to absence of enforcement of mitigation measures by quarry workers and lack of controlling mechanisms by any responsible bodies.So that, the government, stakeholders and local community collaboratethe effective enforcement of stone quarrying regulation. Restoration and rehabilitation program should be planed and implemented from the quarried land and refilling of quarry pits with forestry and tree planting in degraded quarried sites.