PROGRAM FOR THE REHABILITATION AND RESTORATION OF MINED OUT AREAS THROUGH PHYTOTECHNOLGIES:(A three year program)

IntroductionThe Philippines has been classified as one of the mega diverse countries in the world with respect to biodiversity and ecosystems diversity and has a significant number of endemic species. Our country is also rich in mineral resources such as gold, copper, nickel etc. which have been extracted even before World War II. These two characteristics can be attributed to the unique geological history of our country.

Mining can contribute to the country’s economic development but can have adverse environmental impacts. Mitigating measures to minimize the effects of mining on the environment should be implemented throughout the life cycle of this anthropogenic activity.

The presence of these metals in the soil led to evolution of a rich genetic resource of mettalophytes (plants that naturally thrive on metal enriched landscape) in the country. Hyperaccumulators (plants that can accumulate heavy metal as much as 1,000 ppm in their vegetative structures) also evolved. These plants can be utilized in post mining activities for phytostabilization, phytoremediation, phytomining and source of germplasm for breeding.

The Phytotechnologies Program aims to identify the diversity of these metallophytes in the country. It will also focus on the hyperaccumulators of nickel, copper and arsenic which can eventually be propagated to stabilize the area in post mining activities or even during ore extraction. Mass propagation of the plants can be an alternative livelihood of the mining community. The biology and physiology of the metallophytes have to be studied for successful propagation. The possibility of metal recovery from the potential hyperaccumulators will be researched so that the technology that will be developed is cost effective at the same time environment friendly.

Project 1 :

Conservation of Native Metallophytes, Phytochemistry of Nickel Hyperaccumulators, and Phytostabilization to Restore Mined-out Areas in Palawan, Surigao, and Zambales

Objectives:

1. To discover new species/records of nickel hyperaccumulators indigenous in the Philippines.

2. To isolate novel compounds and identify various metabolites involved in the sequestration of nickel.

3. To characterize the associated microflora in the rhizosphere.

4. To mass produce and establish nurseries and plantations of native metallophytes.

5. To develop phytostabilization technology using native metallophytes in restoration of mined-out areas.

6. To develop a policy paper on restoration of mined-out areas using native metallophytes

7. To publish peer-reviewed scientific papers in international journals.

Project 2 :

Metal Bio-indicator Plant Species of the Philippines

Objectives:

1. Create a national database of metal hyperaccumulator plant species naturally occurringin metal rich or ultramafic soils.

2. Create a national database of obligate and facultative metallophyte species that naturally occur in metal rich and adjacent non-metal rich soils in the six study sites.

3. Determine the plasticity in the morphological and physiological responses and adaptations of selected facultative species exposed to varying concentrations of heavy metals through a pot experiment.

4. Establish a protocol and a training kit to build the capacity of environmental managers and stakeholders to detect heavy metal contamination in soils using bioindicator species. Also establish a network of DOST partner institutions and La Salle affiliated schools; as well as provide training to network members in the identification, monitoring, propagation and conservation of hyperaccumulator species in six sites, as well as training in the use of tools like the national database to be created.

5. Recommend a set of cultural management practices for the propagation of selected hyperaccumulator species identified as potential phytoremediation agents from each of the six sites in order to promote the use of hyperaccumulators, obligate and facultative metallophytes and other associated species in the phytotechnologies for clean-up and restoration like phytostabilization, phytoextraction, phytomining and as pioneer reforestation species.

Project 3 :

Copper and Arsenic Recovery as a Post-mining Activity Using Indigenous Plant Hyperaccumulators

Objectives:

1. To assess the potential of different plant species for hyperaccumulation of copper and arsenic.

2. To determine the biology of 3 to 4 plant hyperaccmumulators to be able understand fully their potential for hyperaccumulation.

3. To facilitate the propagation of these plants: set up nurseries, transfer the propagated plant materials to identified sites.

4. To develop an environment friendly at the same time cost effective technology on the recovery of metals from the copper and arsenic hyperaccumulators.