Utility Value Criteria in Selection of Species for Sustainable Reclamation of Silica Mining Areas

Introduction

The Shankargarh area of Prayagraj District of Uttar Pradesh State in India has been gifted with huge resources of high quality Silica sand. It is one of the most versatile industrial minerals of the present century being used as glass sand, foundry sand, abrasives, fillers and hydraulic fracturing sand. In view of the good variety and soaring value of the Silica sand deposits found here, it has gained wide economic importance and recognition as a major source of Allahabad district revenues. Mining operation, undoubtedly, has brought wealth and employment opportunity in the area but simultaneously it has also led to extensive environmental degradation and erosion of traditional values in the society. Therefore, a holistic integrated organic and socioeconomic approach is required to bioreclaim the site which involves restoration of soil health, nutrient supplementation through intelligent and optimum use of biofertilizers, judicious choice of tree species and active willing community participation. Bioreclamation primarily aims to accelerate natural vegetation succession processes by assisting natural regeneration and artificial regeneration or plantation of pre selected site specific suitable socioeconomically beneficial species, so that the entire plant community develops in the desired way over a period of time. The decision of what species to plant is, therefore, most important. Deciding what species to plant has two main aspects. The first aspect of species choice is knowledge about the purpose for which the trees are intended for viz. timber, fodder, fuelwood and softwood etc. This influences the choice because each species has specific blend of attributes and utilities to bring forth. The second aspect of species choice is identification of species which would grow well on the site in question. The selection of species should, therefore, be based on the site conditions and the end users’ needs. Ignoring perceptions of local people in the beginning of planning phase, which includes the selection of planting species for afforestation, is one of the major impediments for successful implementation of afforestation programmes (Maikhuri et. al., 1997).