Exploring Stone Quarrying in the Kambui Hills North Forest Reserve (KHNFR) in Kenema District

Stone quarrying is a livelihood source for most people residing in urban and rural communities closed to cities. This study aimed at exploring stone quarrying in the Kambui Hills North Forest Reserves (KHNFR) in Kenema District. Descriptive survey design was used and the study area was purposively selected because it had all the variables needed for the study. For data collection, simple random sampling technique was used. Fifty-five (55) stone quarried miners were randomly selected. Equally so, five (5) key informants were purposively selected because they were staying in the quarried communities and knew all the stone quarrying sites. One (1) staff from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Two (2) District Forest Officers (DFO) and two (2) local chiefs in the quarried communities. In total sixty-five (65) respondents were selected. Survey questionnaires and observational fact sheet was used. Data was analyze by simple graphs. Findings reveals that respondents of youthful ages were highly engaged in stone quarrying than others in different age brackets. It was also discovered that there were more stone quarrying sites in the KNHFR by Buwaihun and Kordebortihun forest edge communities. However, it was discovered that three methods were used which included digging, heating, and wedging which were all traditional methods of stone quarrying. It was concluded that KNHFR have lost and will continue to lose its biodiversity and landscape to stone quarrying if not stopped or controlled by duty bearers. Recommendations provided ranges from development of forest management plan to reclamation or rehabilitation of stone quarry sites in the KNHFR