Effects of artisanal gold mining on woody vegetation structure and species diversity: a case study of Garati area, Bindura
- Author
- Munjoma, Natsai O.
- Title
- Effects of artisanal gold mining on woody vegetation structure and species diversity: a case study of Garati area, Bindura
- Abstract
- This study aims on assessing the impacts of artisanal mining on structure and species diversity of woody vegetation in Garati area, Bindura, northeast Zimbabwe. Woody vegetation species data were collected, the plots were measured and divided into a total of 30 plots, sample plots were randomly selected. Square Quadrats plots of 20m by 20m were adopted for stock data collection in, 15 for the exploited area and 15 for the unexploited area. Both matured plants and saplings were recorded during the study. The study tested the hypothesis that density and diversity of the woody tree species in the mined and unmined areas. A total of 332 woody trees were recorded, 232on the unmined area and 74 on the mined area. The extent of vegetation affected by the activities of illegal small scale miners was assessed. The Simpsons reciprocal diversity index of tree species at mined area was 0.67 as compared to 0.93 for the unmined area. Common woody tree species were identified in both areas as designated by the calculated Jaccards similarity index of 0.55. However woody species density of 0.12 per 100m2 and 6.7 per 100 m2 was recorded in the mined and unmined areas respectively. Shannon H diversity index for woody vegetation species diversity (𝐻’ = 1.11) and (𝐻’ = 3.89) for mined and unmined areas respectively. The null hypothesis that there is no significant difference of artisanal small-scale mining on woody tree species density is rejected at the 0.05 significant level, indicating that artisanal small-scale mining significantly affected woody vegetation cover. It is recommended that efforts should be made to reclaim the degraded lands through an effective environmental laws and forestry laws.
- Date
- May 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Artisanal mining
- Woody vegetation species
- Supervisor
- Mr. A. Kundhlande
- Media
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Munjoma - ES.pdf