**3.4 Impacts on biodiversity**

It has been reported that due to fine aggregate extraction, many hectares of fertile streamside land are lost annually, as well as valuable timber resources and wildlife habitats in the riparian areas. Degraded stream habitats result in loss of

### **Figure 3.**

*(A) Degradation of quarries in Addis Ababa, around Debre Gelan [14] and (B) Scoria Source, Tullu Dimtu, around Debre Gelan [14].*

**73**

*Environmental Impact and Sustainability of Aggregate Production in Ethiopia*

fisheries productivity, biodiversity, and recreational potential. Severely degraded

*Water pollution by liquid waste discharge from one of the biggest quarry of Midroc, Addis Ababa [6].*

If the proposed quarry is in urban center where it is surrounded by residential

impact on these values. The quarry would be visible to homes, parks, and open space.

and recreational land of high scenic values, quarry operation will negatively

channels may lower land and aesthetic values [6].

*Coarse aggregate crushing plants have effect on nearby inhabitants [14].*

**3.5 Social impacts of quarry**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90845*

*Abandoned quarry site at Augusta, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia [11].*

**Figure 4.**

**Figure 5.**

**Figure 6.**

*Environmental Impact and Sustainability of Aggregate Production in Ethiopia DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90845*

**Figure 4.** *Abandoned quarry site at Augusta, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia [11].*

**Figure 5.**

*Sandy Materials in Civil Engineering - Usage and Management*

**3.1 Impact on landscape and land stability**

section.

(**Figures 3** and **4**).

**3.2 Impact on the atmosphere**

**3.3 Impact on water resource**

**3.4 Impacts on biodiversity**

diseases, respiratory infection, etc. [14].

mining sites are common [6] (**Figure 5**).

aggregate mix goes beyond the need to ensure a secure supply of aggregates to the economy by adding the requirement that the selected blend of natural aggregates, quarry by-products, and recycled waste must be produced and transported in an eco-efficient manner that minimizes total negative impacts and maximizes overall benefits to society [16]. Locally there are different environmental impacts due to the quarry sites of aggregates; the major impacts are summarized in the following

Stripping, excavating, damping of the overburden soil, drilling, and blasting of the rocks are the serious causes of soil erosion due to the quarry sites. Due to this activity, frequent soil creeps, siltation of down steams, formation of pits, borehole, surface ragging or cliff are created. Besides, agriculture productivity redaction, losses of the natural aesthetic of the area, and the bio diversity are created [14]

When a blast is detonated, some energy will escape into the atmosphere causing a disturbance in the air. Part of this disturbance is subaudible (air concussion) and part can be heard (noise). Once again the same to noise effect, the repetition and the exposure of the workers repeatedly make potential causes for the airborne

Groundwater flow in springs, gaining streams, and wells may be impacted by nearby aggregate operations that pump groundwater from the pit or quarry [9]. Due to resuspension of sediments, sedimentation due to stockpiling and dumping of excess mining materials and organic particulate matter, and oil spills or leakage from excavation machinery and transportation vehicles, increased turbidity in sand

It has been reported that due to fine aggregate extraction, many hectares of fertile streamside land are lost annually, as well as valuable timber resources and wildlife habitats in the riparian areas. Degraded stream habitats result in loss of

*(A) Degradation of quarries in Addis Ababa, around Debre Gelan [14] and (B) Scoria Source, Tullu Dimtu,* 

**72**

**Figure 3.**

*around Debre Gelan [14].*

*Water pollution by liquid waste discharge from one of the biggest quarry of Midroc, Addis Ababa [6].*

**Figure 6.** *Coarse aggregate crushing plants have effect on nearby inhabitants [14].*

fisheries productivity, biodiversity, and recreational potential. Severely degraded channels may lower land and aesthetic values [6].
