Biodiversity is recognized to be of global importance, yet species and habitats continue to beunder increasing pressure from human-induced influences. Mineral resources exist in significant biodiversity areas, and conservation priorities (Butt et al. 2013). Therefore, biodiversity is under constant threat from mining. Future changes in mineral supply and demand will probably shift threats towards biodiverse regions and thus magnify conservation requirements. This is partly owing to depletion of higher-grade ores in accessible areas as well as competing economic land uses in non-conservation areas. The ecological consequences of mining are immense.
Mining is a major economic activity in many developing countries (Sumi et al. 2001, Jhariya & Chourasia 2010). Mining operation small or large scale, are inherently disruptive to the environment, producing enormous quantities of waste that can have deleterious impact for decades (Sumi et al. 2001; Kitula 2005). The environmental deterioration caused by mining occurs mainly as a result of inappropriate and wasteful working practices and rehabilitation measures (Jhariya & Chourasia, 2010; Mondal et al. 2014).
The environmental problems arising due to mining activities are Land degradation, Degradation of forest and loss of biodiversity, Soil contamination, Air pollution, Surface and ground water pollution, noise and vibrations, Deterioration of natural drainage system (Sumi et al. 2001; Dasgupta, 2012; Mondal et al. 2014). Surface and groundwater pollution is one of the significant impacts of mining activity (Hudson, 2012).
Mining equals Pollution
The mining sector uses large quantities of water, though some mines do reuse of their water intake (Sumi et al., 2001). Mining releases sulphide-containing minerals into the air, where they oxidize and react with water to form sulphuric acid (Sumi et al. 2001; Mehta 2002; Hudson 2012). This, together with various trace element impacts groundwater, both from the surface and underground mines (Hudson, 2012).
Mining process has bad impact on surrounding environment (Sumi et al. 2001; Dasgupta, 2012). The result can be unnaturally high concentration of some chemicals, such as arsenic sulfuric acid and mercury over a significant area of surface or groundwater (Kamakar et al. 2012). There is potential for massive contamination of the area surrounding mines due to the various chemicals used in the mining process as well as the potentially damaging compound and the metal removed from the ore (Hudson 2012). Erosion of waste materials, especially waste rock and tailing, can affect surface water quality (Sumi et al. 2001; Hudson 2012).
The quality and quantity of groundwater may get affected through various factors like surface hydology, soil texture and terrestrial vegetation (MINEO consortium, 2000, Sumi et al. 2001). Though the quantity of water may be intercepted and pumped out or lost by evaporation thereby lowering the water table (Hudson, 2012). Mining process involves loss of vegetation because of which runoff take place and reduces infiltration. And, ultimately lower the groundwater level (Jhariya & Chourasia, 2010).
Impact of Mining on Biodiversity
Mining affects biodiversity at multiple spatial scales (site, landscape, regional and global) through direct (i.e., mineral extraction) and indirect processes (via industries supporting mining operations, and external stakeholders who gain access to biodiversity-rich areas as the result of mining). To effectively manage biodiversity in mining regions, the full extent and distribution of threats must be better understood and incorporated into conservation plans and decision-making.
The overall impact of mining is considered as a major threat to the biological entities of the area as the various biogeochemical components and processes gets affected which directly influences the survival and type of species inhabiting and utilizing the landscape for basic needs.
Phase I /Preliminary study:
Biodiversity Survey
Reviewing the past Wildlife Working Action plans (WWAPs) to understand the trends and aspects of major focus and concerns to be documented and highlighted in the upcoming plans. Surveying the entire study area using vehicular and line transects for assessing the overall biodiversity of flora and fauna present in this area by preparing a checklist based on identification of biological components of an area, with reference to their IUCN Status (Showing details of endemic, threatened, scheduled and invasive species).
Descriptive details of flora and fauna with respect to site-specific details. Species Richness should be calculated through the recorded checklist. Repeated quantitative surveys has to be done in each area in fixed regular intervals to avoid any biasness in the data and reducing our chances of missing any species. Data has to be collected in such a way so that gradual changes at a spatial scale can be detected (Rowell, 1993) to understand the impact of Human induced activities such as mining.
Habitat Surveys
The rate of variation, in the vegetation, soil parameters (Color, texture, Soil type, Soil toxicity content, Mineral content in soil), Water parameters (pH, salinity, toxic contents, mineral composition, number, pattern and condition of natural drainage lines), topographic features, landscape variables such as elevation, slope, aspect, terrain ruggedness has to be calculated within fixed regular intervals.
Any linear infrastructure such as roads, rail lines, water ways, canals etc. which could have an impact on the movement of megafauna in the impact zone should be recorded during the field survey. Any Water reservoirs, vertical mining pits, and unguarded dug wells needs to be recorded. The information about the major forest type (as per Champion & Seth 1968) and condition of habitat based on present ecological features. All the information should be collected with specific GPS points and Ground level information based on field surveys and mapped effectively using GIS wherever possible.
Studying of Noise Pollution
The mining sites has to be surveyed to monitor the level and extent of noise pollution and the presence of any species in these regions will be assessed. Creating Land use change models and scenario analyses to predict future threats to biodiversity in the study area. Direct impacts of chemical and physical (i.e., dusts and aerosols) mining waste discharge; chemical emissions (Malm 1998) has to be assessed.
The Preliminary study will help in generating a baseline information regarding the ecological components of the study area and the rate of variation in the ecological components with respect to the distance from the core of mining zone. This will help in assessing the influence of the proximity to the mining activity (considered as a major disturbance) upon the species richness in the entire landscape.
Phase II/ Semi Structured Interviews (Third months)
Rapid assessment of any habitat in relation to its biodiversity health and status can be done by identifying ways to align socio-economic and biodiversity conservation goals. Total number of Villages and habitations within the project impact area of 10 km radius needs to be assessed.
Understanding the Depenendence of Communities on the Local Environment
Conducting Semi-structured questionnaire surveys with different groups of local communities by categorizing them based on educational qualification, occupation profile, age etc. to get an overall understanding of the situation and major problems for people residing in the fringe areas prone to the risk of facing negative interactions with wild animals like Elephants which are dominant in this landscape and often move towards human settlements.
An approximation of the total number of families in each village should be calculated and the number of families depending on NTFP has to be obtained in accordance with the method particularly used for the extraction of NTFP’S and the frequency of extraction. Estimation of the overall cattle population of each village and the grazing pressure on the buffer areas.
An overall demographic and occupational profile, based on majority has to be categorized for each surveyed village along with the type of cropping pattern followed for cultivating crops. The data regarding the instances of property loss, crop-raiding, Livestock loss, human kills etc. for the last 3 years needs to be gathered from the forest department. Major zones of Human-Wildlife conflict demarcated through mapping and reasons for the conflict will be assessed and correlated to the present disturbance of mining in the area.
GIS Based Mapping
Proper survey of the buffer zone with estimated radius of 10 kms for assessing the impact and extent of disturbance. Movement of mega fauna in this zone for last 3 years will be depicted through GIS based mapping.
Using GIS as a tool, based on collected point locations for mining sites, species presence locations, and village locations the impact zone, mapped by categorizing to the zone of high, moderate and low disturbance respectively.
Phase III/ Data Compilation, Strategy Building and Threat Assesment (Fourth month)
Documenting and classifying the major threats and their nature whether direct or indirect with the degree of its influence based on the obtained results. Proposing mitigation strategies to minimize the impact of mining activity upon the adjacent habitat and biological components. Categorizing each aspect of study into Chapters as per the Wildlife Conservation Plan format. Also, assessment of the effect of the increase in linear infrastructure and vehicular traffic upon the biodiversity of this area based on Predictive modeling.
Proper Site-level strategy with interventions needs to be implemented by project authorities and DFO. Recommendations has to be provided regarding the regulation and conduct of eco-developmental activities with ways to minimize the instances of Human-Wildlife conflict.
Written by: Shreya Pandey
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