A field demonstration on reclamation/reforestation techniques for mined-out gold areas was recently conducted at Mahdia for miners and other industry stakeholders.
The demonstration was conducted on Saturday, April 20th by the World Wildlife Fund-Guianas in collaboration with University of Guyana (UG) lecturers, a press release from the WWF-Guianas said.
The demonstration, it noted, formed part of a larger project, under the auspices of the WWF-Guianas, to disseminate mining-related research from the university in formats that will increase their adoption by policy-makers, programmes designers, services providers and miners.
The facilitator of the demonstration, the release said, explained to attendees how to plant the Acacia plant, which is best-suited for reclaiming mined-out areas because of its ability to grow on very poor soils with little land preparation and fertilizer application. It was also noted that Acacia has the proven ability to act as a pioneer specie as it prepares the soil for re-vegetation of local species, such as Taurniro, Kabukalli, Kadatiri and Baromalli.
Attendees were also taken on a guided inspection of a small Acacia research plantation to see first-hand the effectiveness of the reclamation technique. Local miners and residents were impressed by what they saw, the release said, while adding the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Environmental Officer in Mahdia agreed to prepare and distribute seedlings to interested persons.
According to the release, the demonstration was held at the field research site of the GENCAPD/GGMC in the “heavily-mined area” St Elizabeth, at Mahdia. Apart from the 20 local miners and residents present, there were also representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the GGMC, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Region 8 administration, and the UG Department of Mining and Geology.
