Assessment of impacts and institutional framework in artisanal mining activities on the upper Ruvu sub – catchment: a case of Matombo area in Morogoro rural, Morogoro Tanzania

Artisanal gold mining activities (AGMA) have increased due to very high gold prize. Accordingly, environmental and social problems arise such as water resource degradation, population and other issues associated with mining and processing of alluvial gold (AG). This is also the case with Upper Ruvu sub-catchment (URS). The main objective of the study was to assess the impacts of the AGMA on the URS. Specifically to identify the nature of mining operations, its impacts on the environment and community and to assess the adequacy of legal, policy and institutional framework. Interviews, focus group discussions, observations, checklists and sampling (water quality) were the methods used in data collection. The identified impacts were; land degradation and siltation, disturbance of biodiversity, morphological changes and loss of aesthetic value deterioration of water quality where by sampling at three selected points for DO, pH, Temp, TDS, EC, As, Hg, Pb, Cd, and Fe were analyzed.The findings showed that DO ranged from 4.99-8.33 mg/l, pH ranged from 7.98 - 7.94, Temp ranged from 23.6 °C -31.9 °C , TDS ranged from 40 – 113 mg/L, EC ranged from 61.6-176.6 μS/cm, Hg ranged from 0.0701-0.5963 mg/l and Fe ranged from 0.0012 -0.0029 mg/L. General findings showed poor water quality in the URS.The social economic impacts were child labour, employment, inadequate of social services and competition on the use of water resources .Integration between sectors is important. Water quality monitoring for the URS should be done. Most of legal, policy and institutional framework are inadequate an improvement in terms of reviewing.