The Mineral Development Fund (MDF) has commenced a series of stakeholder engagements aimed at intensifying public sensitisation and encouraging small-scale miners and the mining industry at large to reclaim degraded lands.
As part of the initiative, a high-level meeting was held to highlight the pivotal role the media can play in supporting the national effort to restore mined lands.
The engagement brought together key regional stakeholders, including the Regional Security Coordinator, Middle Belt Coordinator of MDF, Regional Directors from the Forestry Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Minerals Commission (MINCOM), the Regional Coordinator of NADMO, representatives from the National Association of Small-Scale Miners, and various media houses.
The meeting, which focused on “The Role of the Media in Degraded Land Reclamation,” underscored the media’s strategic position in raising awareness, educating the public, and holding industry players accountable for responsible mining practices.
Speaking during the session on July 28, officials emphasised that the media can amplify community voices, shed light on the environmental and socio-economic impacts of unreclaimed mined lands, and advocate for stricter enforcement of reclamation policies.
“The media is essential in shaping public opinion, building support for reclamation initiatives, and encouraging mining companies to adopt best practices,” a representative from the MDF noted.
“Through documentaries, reports, social media campaigns, and investigative journalism, the media can stimulate both government and industry action.”
Stakeholders at the event called for deeper collaboration with journalists and media organisations to ensure that issues surrounding land degradation and reclamation remain prominent in national discourse.
By leveraging its reach and influence, the media is expected to play a transformative role in promoting ecosystem health, community safety, and sustainable economic growth through responsible mining and effective land reclamation.
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