Forest Carbon, Soil Nutrients, and Heavy Metal Status after 15 years of Small-scale Gold Mining in Guyana

Journal article

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Publication Details

Author list: Devon George; Amnat Chidthaisong

Publisher: Kasetsart University

Publication year: 2024

Volume number: 43

Issue number: 2

Start page: 174

End page: 190

Number of pages: 17

ISSN:  2822-115X

URL: https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/tjf/article/view/263474

Abstract

This study evaluated the impacts of small-scale gold mining on forest regeneration, soil nutrients, and the accumulation of heavy metals over a chronosequence of 1-15 years after mining activities in Mahdia, Guyana. Thirteen 50m x 50m plots were established across twelve mined-out sites, with three plots each in areas abandoned after 1, 5, 10, and 15 years, along with a control plot. Soil samples were taken from each mining plot, along with collection of tree data, including species composition, height, and diameter at breast height (DBH) for trees >4 cm in diameter. Small trees (DBH 1-4 cm) were measured within subplots of size 10m x 10m, and saplings were counted in 4m x 4m plots. The control plot was dominated by four species: Mora gonggrijpii, Chlorocardium rodiei, Mora excelsa, and Catostemma commune, which contributed more than 60% of the overall species sampled, with biomass and carbon content measured at 665 ton

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