Sierra Leone, endowed with rich mineral resources, is a significant global supplier of titanium minerals, particularly rutile and ilmenite. Before the civil war in 1991, mining activities constituted 90% of the country’s registered exports and contributed approximately 20% to its GDP, with rutile alone accounting for more than half of these figures. The Moyamba District, located along the Atlantic coast, remains the epicenter of rutile mining. Rutile extraction involves creating large artificial lakes, which are subsequently dredged, leaving extensive pits measuring up to 600 meters in length. These practices have led to significant environmental degradation, including deforestation and land degradation. It is estimated that between 80,000 and 120,000 hectares of land have been mined across the country, with restoration efforts being minimal or non-existent, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of these activities and their impact on the environment. In the 1974 satellite image, a small mining operation can be seen (in the centre), but much of the Moyamba District remained covered with relatively intact forests. By 2023, mining activities had transformed large areas of forest into water-filled pits. In both images, vegetation is visualised as green, bare ground is a brownish hue, while water is blue in colour. The Landsat image of 17 November 2023 provides a regional overview of the Great Dyke (yellow arrows). The second image focuses on the Mimosa Platinum Mine, showing the mine and mine tailings. In these two images, Vegetation is visualised as green. Bare ground is a brownish hue, while in the high-resolution image (17 June 2023), the mining areas are whitish in colour.

Over 60% of the Wassa West District in western Ghana is currently under concession to large-scale gold mining companies, representing the highest concentration of mining activity within a single district in Africa. This intensive mining has significantly contributed to forest degradation, with open-pit operations being primary drivers of deforestation. Beyond direct forest loss, the associated infrastructure development and population increase have triggered further environmental changes, leading to widespread land cover conversion. Since the 1980s, the district has seen a marked decline in its tropical rainforest, with substantial portions either degraded or entirely lost due to mining activities. The situation underscores the urgent need for sustainable mining practices and stronger regulatory frameworks to mitigate environmental impacts and preserve the remaining forested areas for future generations. These two Landsat images show the dramatic growth of mining in Wassa West between 1986 and 2022. This growth has also led to the expansion of urban areas in the district. In both images, vegetation appears in green, while bare ground and built-up areas are represented in brownish/pinkish hues. The open-pit mines are mainly bluish/silver in colour.

The Musonoi mines, situated in the southern Kolwezi mining district, are among the most significant sources of copper and cobalt globally, with estimated reserves exceeding 6 million tonnes of copper and 3 million tonnes of cobalt. These minerals are critical for the production of electric vehicle batteries and other green technologies, positioning the Musonoi mines as a strategic asset for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the global market. However, the DRC’s mining sector faces substantial challenges, including corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and political instability. These issues have impacted the Musonoi mines, with the operating company facing criticism for environmental degradation and human rights concerns. In response, the company has introduced initiatives to mitigate these challenges, focusing on environmental sustainability and improving community welfare. Despite ongoing difficulties, the Musonoi mines continue to be a major economic driver, providing employment and significant revenue for the DRC. As global demand for copper and cobalt intensifies, the Musonoi mines are expected to play a pivotal role in meeting this demand. These two images chronicle the expansion and intensification of mining activities and the urban growth of Kolwezi between 1984 and 2023. In both images, vegetation is green. Bare ground and mining areas are a brownish/pinkish hue, while water is blue/black.

The Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHP), located on the Rufiji River within Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve, aims to significantly enhance the country’s electricity supply to meet rising energy demands. With an estimated capacity of 2,115 MW, JNHP is poised to become Tanzania’s largest hydropower project and a major energy contributor in East Africa. The project includes constructing a 130-meter-high dam, creating a reservoir covering approximately 1,350 square kilometers, and establishing an underground power station. This transformative project is anticipated to drastically alter Tanzania’s socio-economic landscape. By increasing electricity generation capacity, JNHP will provide millions of Tanzanians with reliable access to electricity, unlocking new opportunities across various sectors. Enhanced electricity access is expected to drive advancements in healthcare, industry, education, and overall human well-being. The project’s benefits extend beyond immediate energy supply, fostering long-term socio-economic development and improving the quality of life for Tanzanians. However, the project has raised environmental concerns, particularly regarding its location within the Selous Game Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Balancing development and conservation will be crucial to ensure sustainable progress. The two satellite images present a classic “before and after” situation. While the July 2020 image shows ongoing construction of the dam (yellow box), the 2024 image was taken after the reservoir had been filled. In both images, water is visualized in blue, while vegetation and bare ground are visualized in green and brownish hues, respectively.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), located on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region, was constructed between 2011 and 2023. As Africa’s largest hydropower plant, with an installed capacity of 6,450 MW, GERD is set to meet Ethiopia’s growing domestic electricity needs and facilitate power exports to neighboring countries, enhancing regional energy security. Beyond electricity generation, GERD will provide essential water for irrigation, boosting agricultural productivity and food security. Additionally, the dam will improve flood control, mitigating the impacts of seasonal flooding on downstream communities and farmlands. It is also expected to enhance navigation on the Nile, supporting trade and transportation. However, GERD has been a source of regional tension, particularly with Sudan and Egypt, concerning water allocation and environmental impacts. Diplomatic negotiations and international mediation are ongoing to ensure equitable water sharing and sustainable management of the Nile’s resources, crucial for regional cooperation and stability. These satellite images show the construction and filling of GERD between 2011 and 2022, with green representing vegetation, light to brownish hues representing built-up/bare areas, and blue hues representing water. In the 2022 image, the filling of GERD’s reservoir was already underway.