Firm taps residents to reforest mined-out sites
-A A +ASunday, July 1, 2012
A MINING firm in Toledo City, Cebu has partnered with a people’s organization to reforest mined-out areas.
Christopher Salcedo of Carmen Copper Corp. (CCC) said the mining firm needed to tap the organization to focus on the task, as it is difficult for trees to grow on mined-out areas because the soil is acidic and lacks nutrients.
Still, Salcedo said, CCC was able to reforest 105 hectares within its mining concession area in 2011.
CCC plans to rehabilitate and reforest the Lutopan pit once it is mined out and operations move to the Carmen pit.
Alex Ozoa, environment and safety division officer of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7, said mining firms have to comply with environmental laws to continue operating.
He said mining firms have to undertake measures to address issues like mine wastes and deforestation, among others.
He added that MGB and a multi-partite monitoring team (MMT) also checks compliance with environmental laws by mining firms.
So far, he said, CCC has complied with environmental and mining laws.
Reporters were allowed to join the recent MMT tour. (Raycyril Estillore, USJR Intern)
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on July 02, 2012.
Local news
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