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Birds of golden pride project area, nzega district, central Tanzania: An evaluation of recolonization of rehabilitated areas
Abstract
In Tanzania, the success of habitat restoration in mining areas to create suitable environmental conditions for wildlife is poorly understood. Between March 2010 and December 2014 bird species were recorded at the Golden Pride Project area, a gold mine in Nzega District, central Tanzania. The aims of this study were to document bird communities in the mine area, and to assess the extent to which rehabilitated areas have been recolonised. Mist netting, point counts, timed species counts and opportunistic observations were used to document 181 species of birds at the mine area. These included two species endemic to Tanzania, the Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill Tockus ruahae (treated here as a species separate from T. erythrorhynchus, see Kemp & Delport 2002, Sinclair & Ryan 2010) and Ashy Starling Cosmopsarus unicolor. Rehabilitated areas had about half the number of species found in the unmined areas. Bird use of areas under rehabilitation suggests that habitat restoration can be used to create corridors linking fragmented landscapes. Results suggest that as the vegetation of the rehabilitated areas becomes more structurally complex, the number of bird species found there will be similar to those in unmined areas. This study provides a baseline for future monitoring, leading to a better understanding of the process of avian colonisation of rehabilitated areas. Furthermore, results imply that in mining areas it is useful to have an unmined area where vegetation is naturally allowed to regenerate, free of human activity. These unmined areas can later act as source habitats from which birds can disperse into rehabilitation areas once the vegetation structure is sufficiently complex.
... In Tanzania, the debate about constant policy reforms in the mining sector gained fresh prominence in 2018 when the country started making some amendments to her mining policies. However, many experts argue that the reforms were aimed at making sure that the business environment is suitable for investors and also to enable the Government to collect reasonable revenue from the mining operations, but some have viewed the reform to be accompanied with a nationalist agenda [18]. But, it is evident that corruption of the Government officials played a great role in the formulation of very poor regulations which gave multinational investors a loophole to benefit more at the expense of the Government. ...
... Mining development agreements and other confidential contracts in Tanzania have been in serious scrutiny lately, after noting that the country is successful in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), but does not benefit from the extractive industry [28,18]. Massive frauds have been detected in the mining, as a result of low government involvement. ...
... Similarly, the major drive for regulatory changes in many countries is aiming to address the tensions of sovereign control and harmonizing the regulations in regard to the impact that mining operations brings forth [13]. Moreover, artisanal mining is also recently being largely promoted due to re-emergence of resource nationalism and a concern of politicians to please their electorates depending on the sector for survival as there are more than one million people doing artisanal mining [16,18]. ...
... It is approximately 18 km north of Nzega Township, and 200 km south of Mwanza regional center. Average annual rainfall is between 700 -800 mm per year and average temperatures range from 22˚C to 27˚C [26]. Whereas, GGM is located at latitude: 020 52'03"S and longitude: 0320 11'11"E it is approximately 4 km west of Geita town and 90 km south-west of Mwanza City in north-western Tanzania ( Figure 1). ...
... Before the commencement of the projects local people from the surrounding environments used the areas for anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, cattle grazing and timber harvesting. These activities were among the drivers of land cover changes in the areas [26]. After the Journal of Geographic Information System projects took off these activities ceased and mining and its associated activities have been among key drivers of land cover changes experienced in the licensed areas. ...
... Haule et al. [46] reported forest clearance in limestone mining in Mbeya (Tanzania), exacerbating soil erosion, vegetation loss, and air pollution. Moreover, Werema et al. [56] in Nzega district, Tabora (Tanzania), observed decreased habitat complexity negatively affecting flora and fauna. Moreover, the lack of awareness of timely environmental management around mine sites exacerbates these issues. ...
Mining activities generate hazardous metal waste, impacting biodiversity, yet this linkage is overlooked in most developing countries. Phytoremediation has emerged as the most cost-efficient and eco-friendly technique for multielement remediation. However, the identification of suitable plants requires extensive laboratory testing, hindering its practical application, especially in developing African countries. Consequently, we conducted this review to evaluate the adverse impacts of mining on biodiversity in African countries and identify potential phytoremediators. We compiled information from articles available in various international databases and published by different publishers, based on selected search keywords. The review identified several mining operations, including topsoil removal, smelting and screening of iron ores, pit digging, excavation, drilling, blasting, chemical discharge, spillages and leakages, and improper disposal of solvents, as potential threats to biodiversity. A total of 146 phytoremediators were identified, including 78 natives of the African continent, comprising 57 herbs, 8 shrubs, and 13 trees. Species such as Acacia polyacantha and Alstonia boonei among trees, Marantochloa purpurea and Sporobolus pyramidalis among herbs, and Lycium intricatum and Indigofera cuneata among shrubs could be used as potential phytoremediators in African nations for multiple elements, including Ag, As, Au, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Pt. The candidate plant species would reduce hazardous element levels in the environment, decrease the risk of species extinction, and support conservation initiatives. We anticipate that, this review would raise awareness among people about the consequences of mining on the biodiversity and provide baseline data to trigger sustainable remediation efforts in Africa.
... It is located southeast of Lake Victoria, approximately 200 km south of Mwanza City and about 24 kilometers from Nzega town, within the Nzega greenstone belt, part of the Lake Victoria Gold Field (LVGF). Temperatures typically vary from 22˚C to 27˚C, and there is 700 to 800 mm of annual rainfall on average (Werema et al., 2016). ...
Small-scale gold mining is linked to significant environmental pollution by potentially toxic elements (PTEs). However, research on the pollution caused by such mining activities remains insufficient especially in developing countries. In the present study, a systematic investigation assessed the pollution and level of ecological risk of PTEs in soil and stream sediments in an active small scale gold mining area of Isanga, in Nzega, Tanzania. Samples amounting to 16 soil and 20 sediment were gathered from the study area and analyzed for five PTEs concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb) using the AAS method. The contamination level and ecological risk were assessed using several pollution indices. The results suggest that the assessed environmental systems of the Isanga mining area and its vicinities are lowly contaminated by PTEs and have a low potential to pose ecological risks. Hg and Cd with mean concentrations of 0.09 mg/kg and 0.26 mg/kg respectively were found to be the most enriched PTEs in soil, compared to their average continental crust concentrations (0.056 mg/kg and 0.102 mg/kg respectively). The levels of the evaluated PTEs in the study area are susceptible to increase over time if proactive steps are not taken to control mining and waste disposal activities.
... The study areas are presented in Figure 1. The Golden Pride Gold Mine (GPGM) is located at latitude 04 0 23 0 31 00 S and longitude 032 0 53 0 55 00 E in Western Tanzania, but it operated from 1998 to 2013 (Werema et al., 2016). On the other hand, Geita Gold Mine (GGM) is located at latitude 02 0 52 0 03 00 S and longitude 032 0 11 0 11 00 E in north-western Tanzania (Sibilski and Stephen, 2010). ...
This study assessed and classified the phytoremediation potentials of selected plant species around gold mining areas in restoring the environments contaminated by heavy metals. The geographic focuses of the study were the Golden Pride Gold Mine (GPGM) and Geita Gold Mine (GGM) in Tanzania. The shoots and roots of plant species surrounding the mining areas and the samples of associated soils were collected and analysed for total concentrations of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn) and nickel (Ni) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and UV-VIS spectrophotometry. Results indicated that the soils from study areas were loamy textured and slightly acid (pH 6.1–6.5), soil organic carbon and organic matter were low (0.6–2.0%), total nitrogen was very low (<0.10%), phosphorous ranged from low (6–12 mg kg⁻¹ soil) to high (13–25 mg kg⁻¹ soil), and cation exchange capacity ranged from low (6.0–12.0 cmol(+) kg⁻¹ soil) to medium (12.1–25.0 cmol(+) kg⁻¹ soil). In assessing heavy metals using plant parts, the roots of giant rats-tail grass (Sporobolus pyramidalis) accumulated highest Pb (757.78 μg g⁻¹), Creeping Blepharis (Blepharis maderaspatensis) the Cd (158.11 μg g⁻¹), lantana (Lantana camara) the As (68.61 μg g⁻¹), and leuceana (Leucaena leucocephala) accumulated higher Mn (2734.61 μg g⁻¹) and Ni (4464.33 μg g⁻¹). In shoots, L. leucocephala accumulated higher Cr (1276.67 μg g⁻¹) and higher Cu (2744.44 μg g⁻¹) in L. camara. Although S. pyramidalis, M. repens, L. camara, B. maderaspatensis and L. leucocephala are likely to pose hazards to herbivores (grazing animals) while entering the food chain, they are still potential hyperaccumulators thus can be used to decontaminate metalliferous affected soils. Blepharis maderaspatensis has never been reported anywhere as Pb, Cd, Cu, Mn and Ni uptake plant hence this can be regarded as a new finding.
... The study areas are presented in Figure 1. The Golden Pride Gold Mine (GPGM) is located at latitude 04 0 23 0 31 00 S and longitude 032 0 53 0 55 00 E in Western Tanzania, but it operated from 1998 to 2013 (Werema et al., 2016). On the other hand, Geita Gold Mine (GGM) is located at latitude 02 0 52 0 03 00 S and longitude 032 0 11 0 11 00 E in north-western Tanzania (Sibilski and Stephen, 2010). ...
This study assessed and classified the phytoremediation potentials of selected plant species around gold mining areas in restoring the environments contaminated by heavy metals. The geographic focuses of the study were the Golden Pride Gold Mine (GPGM) and Geita Gold Mine (GGM) in Tanzania. The shoots and roots of plant species surrounding the mining areas and the samples of associated soils were collected and analysed for total concentrations of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn) and nickel (Ni) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and UV-VIS spectrophotometry. Results indicated that the soils from study areas were loamy textured and slightly acid (pH 6.1–6.5), soil organic carbon and organic matter were low (0.6–2.0%), total nitrogen was very low (<0.10%), phosphorous ranged from low (6–12 mg kg–1 soil) to high (13–25 mg kg–1 soil), and cation exchange capacity ranged from low (6.0–12.0 cmol(+) kg–1 soil) to medium (12.1–25.0 cmol(+) kg–1 soil). In assessing heavy metals using plant parts, the roots of giant rats-tail grass (Sporobolus pyramidalis) accumulated highest Pb (757.78 μg g–1), Creeping Blepharis (Blepharis maderaspatensis) the Cd (158.11 μg g–1), lantana (Lantana camara) the As (68.61 μg g–1), and leuceana (Leucaena leucocephala) accumulated higher Mn (2734.61 μg g–1) and Ni (4464.33 μg g–1). In shoots, L. leucocephala accumulated higher Cr (1276.67 μg g–1) and higher Cu (2744.44 μg g–1) in L. camara. Although S. pyramidalis, M. repens, L. camara, B. maderaspatensis and L. leucocephala are likely to pose hazards to herbivores (grazing animals) while entering the food chain, they are still potential hyperaccumulators thus can be used to decontaminate metalliferous affected soils. Blepharis maderaspatensis has never been reported anywhere as Pb, Cd, Cu, Mn and Ni uptake plant hence this can be regarded as a new finding.
In mining areas, habitat rehabilitation is increasingly being used to minimise biodiversity loss and restore areas of natural habitat. In some mining areas, both exotic and native tree species are used in rehabilitation. For the most part, the effectiveness of using both native and exotic plant species in rehabilitation to attract avifauna is not known. Using a fixed‐radius point‐count method to sample birds, this study assessed the extent to which sites rehabilitated with exotic plant species attracted local avifauna compared to sites rehabilitated with native plant species, as well as to the unaffected surrounding woodlands. Rehabilitation dominated by exotic species had a lower density of bird species and individuals, lower relative abundance and lower species diversity compared with sites rehabilitated by native plant species and the surrounding woodlands. The results suggest that the use of exotic plant species, L . leucocephala , should be avoided in rehabilitation. Therefore, for restoration purposes it is desirable to use native tree species in rehabilitation rather than exotic tree species.
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