Mining methods exert differential effects on species recruitment at artisanal small-scale mining sites in Ghana
Artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) is one of the essential rural non-agricultural livelihood activities in Ghana. However, basic and rudimentary practices and tools associated with ASM activities lead to vegetation and soil destruction. Given the limitation of state-sponsored reclamation of abandone...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022007228 |
| _version_ | 1818534656324141056 |
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| author | Desmond Asare Michael Ansong Boateng Kyereh Frederick Gyasi Damptey Winston Adams Asante |
| author_facet | Desmond Asare Michael Ansong Boateng Kyereh Frederick Gyasi Damptey Winston Adams Asante |
| author_sort | Desmond Asare |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) is one of the essential rural non-agricultural livelihood activities in Ghana. However, basic and rudimentary practices and tools associated with ASM activities lead to vegetation and soil destruction. Given the limitation of state-sponsored reclamation of abandoned ASM sites, the role of natural recovery in abandoned mine sites is deemed a viable option, as it lowers financial obligations, promotes pioneer species and improves local ecology. The residual impacts of different ASM methods (alluvial or chamfi) and their implications for reclamation are less explored. Using a randomised sampling approach, one hundred and eight (108) plots representing 54 abandoned mined (27 alluvial and 27 chamfi) and 54 unmined areas (control plots) were demarcated for seedling and sapling assessments. A total of 6,157 seedlings belonging to 133 species and 4,536 saplings belonging to 42 species were recorded. Pielou's evenness and Shannon indices showed that both seedlings and saplings were equitably distributed between mined-out sites and their controls for both methods but showed evidence of environmental variability. This variability was more conspicuous in chamfi mined-out sites, confirming some degradation impacts. Chromolaena odorata (L.) and Mimosa pudica L. were the dominant seedlings recorded, while Hymenostegia afzelii (Oliv.) Harms and Musanga cecropioides M. Smithii R. Br. dominated the saplings. The alluvial method exerted a far greater effect on stand features such as basal area and stand density for saplings owing to its greater soil damage. Assisted restoration measures directed at abandoned mined sites can facilitate ecosystem recovery to a trajectory reminiscent of that of nearby undisturbed forests. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:14:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4559f31bb7d94264aa6d8706d6fa639c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:14:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-4559f31bb7d94264aa6d8706d6fa639c2022-12-22T00:55:29ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402022-05-0185e09434Mining methods exert differential effects on species recruitment at artisanal small-scale mining sites in GhanaDesmond Asare0Michael Ansong1Boateng Kyereh2Frederick Gyasi Damptey3Winston Adams Asante4Department of Silviculture and Forest Management, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana; Corresponding author.Department of Silviculture and Forest Management, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi, Ashanti, GhanaDepartment of Silviculture and Forest Management, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi, Ashanti, GhanaDepartment of Ecology, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus-Senftenberg, 03046, Cottbus, GermanyDepartment of Silviculture and Forest Management, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi, Ashanti, GhanaArtisanal small-scale mining (ASM) is one of the essential rural non-agricultural livelihood activities in Ghana. However, basic and rudimentary practices and tools associated with ASM activities lead to vegetation and soil destruction. Given the limitation of state-sponsored reclamation of abandoned ASM sites, the role of natural recovery in abandoned mine sites is deemed a viable option, as it lowers financial obligations, promotes pioneer species and improves local ecology. The residual impacts of different ASM methods (alluvial or chamfi) and their implications for reclamation are less explored. Using a randomised sampling approach, one hundred and eight (108) plots representing 54 abandoned mined (27 alluvial and 27 chamfi) and 54 unmined areas (control plots) were demarcated for seedling and sapling assessments. A total of 6,157 seedlings belonging to 133 species and 4,536 saplings belonging to 42 species were recorded. Pielou's evenness and Shannon indices showed that both seedlings and saplings were equitably distributed between mined-out sites and their controls for both methods but showed evidence of environmental variability. This variability was more conspicuous in chamfi mined-out sites, confirming some degradation impacts. Chromolaena odorata (L.) and Mimosa pudica L. were the dominant seedlings recorded, while Hymenostegia afzelii (Oliv.) Harms and Musanga cecropioides M. Smithii R. Br. dominated the saplings. The alluvial method exerted a far greater effect on stand features such as basal area and stand density for saplings owing to its greater soil damage. Assisted restoration measures directed at abandoned mined sites can facilitate ecosystem recovery to a trajectory reminiscent of that of nearby undisturbed forests.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022007228Abandoned mine siteArtisanal small-scale miningMining methodsSpecies diversity and compositionSpecies recruitment |
| spellingShingle | Desmond Asare Michael Ansong Boateng Kyereh Frederick Gyasi Damptey Winston Adams Asante Mining methods exert differential effects on species recruitment at artisanal small-scale mining sites in Ghana Heliyon Abandoned mine site Artisanal small-scale mining Mining methods Species diversity and composition Species recruitment |
| title | Mining methods exert differential effects on species recruitment at artisanal small-scale mining sites in Ghana |
| title_full | Mining methods exert differential effects on species recruitment at artisanal small-scale mining sites in Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Mining methods exert differential effects on species recruitment at artisanal small-scale mining sites in Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mining methods exert differential effects on species recruitment at artisanal small-scale mining sites in Ghana |
| title_short | Mining methods exert differential effects on species recruitment at artisanal small-scale mining sites in Ghana |
| title_sort | mining methods exert differential effects on species recruitment at artisanal small scale mining sites in ghana |
| topic | Abandoned mine site Artisanal small-scale mining Mining methods Species diversity and composition Species recruitment |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022007228 |
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