Bridging Extraction and Environmentalism: A Sustainability-Oriented Framework for Managing Mining-Induced Land Degradation

Mining-induced land degradation (MILD) is unavoidable but it can be sustainably managed when social, economic, political and, environmental imperatives are holistically considered in decision-making processes. Therefore, this study examines MILD in Mhondongori Ward 5 and Mapirimira Ward 6 in Zvishavane District of Zimbabwe, using geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) with conventional methods. This is to provide scientific evidence that supports informed decision-making for sustainable management of the mining industry and its potential to cause MILD. It seeks to determine the extent of biophysical landscape fragmentation and its management to develop a sustainability-oriented framework for effective MILD management. Landsat imagery analysis using the supervised image classification method over a 24-year period (2000–2024) revealed that mining land expanded from 0.2 km² (2000) to 1.8 km² (2024) while natural forests declined from 20.6 km² to 12.6 km², bareland decreased from 31.9 km² to 26.8 km² and communal cultivation increased from 18.7 km² to 29.8 km². The land use structure indicates that local livelihoods are heavily dependent on nature-based resources and ecosystem services necessitating revised land use planning that balances mineral extraction with sustainable land allocation to safeguard food security, biodiversity, and community resilience. Community perceptions attribute land degradation mainly to Chinese operators (97.8%) and artisanal miners (59%). Despite existing legal frameworks, weak institutional coordination, limited community participation, and corruption undermine effective management. The co-developed framework offers multi-stakeholder collaboration, legal reform, geospatial monitoring, environmental education, and engineered rehabilitation for supporting Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1, AU Agenda 2063, and global SDGs.