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Environmental issues related to bauxite mining and processing

With emphasis on biodiversity and water

Mining

Environment

Economy

Bauxite exploitation phases


Preliminary exploration + ESIA (desk study) Feasibility assessment Exploration + ESIA (field + desk study) Feasibility assessment Mining + transportation Bauxite processing Mine closure (Bauxite plant closure)

Environmental issues

(Preliminary) Exploration
Noise and human presence Limited deforestation/habitat destruction Home range de-fragmentation due to roads Limited increase of erosion and turbidity Disturbance of hydrology Pollution, mainly chance of eutrophication of streams Road kills (Increased hunting and logging)

Limited deforestation/habitat destruction

Home range de-fragmentation

Increase of erosion

Disturbance of hydrology

Mining
Deforestation/habitat destruction: threat to biodiversity Erosion and turbidity Disturbance hydrology, spongy bauxite cap: threat to aquatic biodiversity Acid soil drainage (coastal area) Dust All other exploration issues increased

Deforestation/habitat destruction

Threat to biodiversity

Threat to biodiversity: endemics

Increased turbidity

Disturbance hydrology

Bauxite processing
Energy: hydro-energy reservoirs Caustic effluents and red-mud Other pollutants

Man-made reservoirs

Man-made reservoirs

Problems related to man-made reservoirs in the humid tropics

Forest clearing before inundation usually too expensive


Forest decomposition causes oxygen depletion also problem for downstream section of river Release of nutrients causes bloom of floating macrophytes Release of heavy metals causes pollution of food chain

Loss of terrestrial biodiversity Decrease and change of aquatic biodiversity Regulation of downstream river decrease in fish biomass

Forest decomposition

Heavy metals

Loss terrestrial biodiversity

Decrease/change aquatic biodiversity


C h a n g e in f is h d iv e r s it y B r o k o p o n d o L a k e
200 180 160 140 120 N u m b e r o f f is h s p e c ie s 100 80 60 40 20 0 1 9 6 2 /6 3 S u r in a m e R iv e r 1 9 7 2 B ro ko p o n d o L a ke 2 0 0 2 /0 3 B r o k o p o n d o L a k e

Bauxite processing (cont.)


Energy: hydro-energy reservoirs Caustic effluents and red-mud

Red-mud lakes

Mine and plant closure


Rehabilitation of mine pits Rehabilitation of deforested areas Rehabilitation of red-mud lakes Rehabilitation of plant and other infrastructure areas

Problems related to rehabilitation


No government strategy Top soil with seeds usually very thin Remaining ground of bad structure and very poor Soil pollution at certain sites

Rehabilitation

Mitigation of environmental impacts


Exploration roads and grid lines as small as possible If needed forest bridges at regular intervals Keep concession area closed for hunters and loggers Stream crossings with right-sized bridges and culverts Careful locating of septic tanks and wastewater streams Erosion preventing measures Non-mining and limited other activities near creeks, protection of creek forest No mitigation possible for hydrological problems

Mitigation of environmental impacts (cont.)


High quality baseline and ESIA studies Implementation of ESIA recommendations Non-mining and protection of unique, rare or threatened habitats and species Spraying of dirt roads Better locating of reservoirs or alternative energy source Removing trees from future reservoir areas or oxygen improvement measures Artificial flooding of downstream river stretch during rainy season (if possible)

Mitigation of environmental impacts (cont.)


Monitoring of selected indicators during mining and after mine closure Reclaiming of red-mud overflow (already happens) Filling up of mine pits or good use of mine lake Improvement of rehabilitation in general Make area inaccessible for hunters and loggers after closure activities (if needed) Government involvement in rehabilitation and destination Passing of environmental law by DNA

Future mining concessions

Biodiversity characteristics future mining areas


Fore-posts of mountainous interior (Brownsberg, Nassau, Lely) or inside this area (Bakhuis) Relatively isolated endemics (Nassau, Lely) Important for nature education and eco-tourism (Brownsberg) Pristine, very rich in wildlife (Bakhuis)

Richness of future mining areas: Bakhuis

Richness of future mining areas: Bakhuis

Bauxite mining and processing

Environment

Economy

Acknowledgement
BHPBilliton for use of camera-trap photographs Suralco for support of Topibo Swamp study WWF for support of mercury study Schure-Beijerinck-Popping Fund for support of turbidity study EDF France for support of fish study Brokopondo Lake Colleagues and assistants in field studies for their friendship and help

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