Project
Soil function restoration at abandoned artisanal and small-scall gold mining sites in Suriname
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is a large source of income in the inland of Suriname. The inland of Suriname is located on the Guiana Shield, where many gold depositions are found. 90% of deforestation on the Guiana Shield is due to ASGM activities. These activities have many detrimental effects on both humans and the environment, yet restoring abandoned ASGM sites offers an opportunity to reduce these negative impacts.
Background
Scientific research has shown that the most limiting factor to restoration of ASGM sites is the elimination of soil functions due the previous mining activities.
WU, TAUW and EMSAGS are currently involved in a project to develop a protocol for local communities to redevelop the soil functions at abandoned ASGM sites to promote ecosystem restoration. This protocol will be based on a restoration design for a pilot site at Compagnie Kreek.
As your thesis project, you will contribute to the first two phases of the project: Project initiation and pilot site investigation. The activities of the thesis include:
Used skills
- Literature review;
- Site investigation design;
- Fieldwork;
- Laboratory skills;
- Data analysis;
- Thesis writing.
Requirements
- SBL21806 Soil Quality or SOC21306 Soil Pollution and Soil Protection;
- Recommended (at least one):
- SOC22306 Chemical Processes in Soil, Water, Atmosphere;
- SBL32806 Biological Interactions in Soils;
- SBL35306 The Carbon Dilemma - a soil perspectives.
