this is one of those illegal open mines for construciton material. People dig out rocks to sell them as foundation for houses. The work is hard and unrewarding; but for many people, no alternatives exist. And the soil crumbles.
Another example of a mine.
These are the roads you cross: eroded gullies with sometimes a good mudbath. Along the roads, you could see from the treeroots that the soillevel had already dropped about 50 cm.
Fuelwood used for clay brick baking. Another cause of land degradation. They knew what they are doing is illegal; they came running and shouting when I took this picture. Drive on, James!!!