Rehabilitation and Restoration
Rehabilitation is the process of returning land disturbed by mining activities to a degree of its former state. Rehabilitation of mined areas stops when the initial pioneer grass is established, signed off and bush clamps begin to form. Restoration is the process of ecological recovery of a site to a natural landscape and habitat that provides ecosystem services capable of supporting human, wildlife, and plant communities.
Initiative Success
Following successful rehabilitation of the Mukurumudzi Dam embankment, Tailings Storage Facility walls and other areas impacted during project construction, this program is now focused on the mined-out areas of South and Central Dunes. Various land preparation techniques, bank stabilisation methods, green manures for soil improvement and a variety of pioneer plant species were trialed ahead of the rehabilitation works.
Rehabilitation of mined-out areas begins by shaping the area into dunes similar to those that existed before mining to ensure natural drainage areas are followed. After that shaping and topsoil spreading, manuring and mulching is done to enhance soil organic matter to prepare for vegetation. Mulching protects the sown seeds from birds and wind and insulates the soil from excessive heat and rain.
A mixture of fast-growing grass seeds sourced from the local community is then sown into the topsoil. Our indigenous nursery provides trees for the areas planted with pioneer grass species.
Restoration activities are ongoing and include establishment of the biodiversity corridor and a successful wetland restoration program in the mining lease area.