The Potential use of Aquatic Ecosystems for Enhancement of the Rehabilitation of Mining Sites

Aquatic ecosystems are hot spots of most terrestrial biodiversity. They interact with their surrounding terrestrial area through food web and habitat resources. The aquatic ecosystems also attractive a wide range of other fauna including wading and migrating birds, amphibians, riparian mammals and insects. Furthermore, aquatic ecosystems have ability to recycle nutrients of wastewater. Despite of many benefits they have, their potentiality in the rehabilitation of quarries is not well recognized. The recent effort on the rehabilitation of quarry site is mostly focused on terrestrial plants despite the fact that quarries life are heterogeneous ecosystems. Owing to this reason, there is a need of using the potentiality of aquatic ecosystem to enhance the rehabilitation of quarries sites. The present project is therefore focused on establishing the aquatic ecosystem at Wazo hill quarry.

Google map showing Wazo Hill

Specific Objectives

• Assessing the terrestrial species after introducing the Aquatic Environment
• Monitoring the growth rate of aquatic Organisms such as fishes, frogs etc.
• Optimizing the reuse of wastewater for stimulating the growth of aquatic flora and fauna.

Water Pond at Wazo Hill

Methodology

On site Aquatic habitat pond with a dimension of 8 x 5 x 1.5 m will be constructed at Wazo hill quarry. Approximate 20.5 m3 of freshwater will be introduced into pond. Initially a total of 50 catfish fingerling at a density of 3 fishes/unit area will be brought into a pond. The wastewater will be used to stimulate the growth of algae which in turn will be utilized by catfish and other aquatic species. The efficiency of wastewater to produce algae will be determined by measurements of chlorophyll in the pond. The growth rate of catfishes will be determine by measurements of their weight and length. Assessment of development of other aquatic biodiversity in the pond as well as the terrestrial species which depend on aquatic habitat, will be observed, identified and recorded.

I take this opportunity to thank Heidelberg Cement group for introducing and facilitating quarry life award. Thanks are due to TPPC for reciveing and evaluating our projects ideas.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Rehabilitation of terrestrial plants

Significance of the Project

Restoration of aquatic ecosystems has a potential significance in a quarry life. Through this project, the ponds will provide the feeding ground of many terrestrial birds, breeding site of fishes, frogs and other aquatic invertebrates in a quarry site. The ponds will provide sources of water for many migrant animals like lizards, rabbits and birds. In additional the project will promoting the reuse of wastewater generated within quarry site.