The ACM team operates with the motto “over and above” even when it comes to managing mined areas. In addition to all compliance with Environmental Law, we decided in 2019 to commence trials with a few different eucalyptus species planted on the mined and rehabilitated soil.
The Life after Mine project launched in 2020, aims not only to cover the rehabilitated areas with forests, but also to leave the future generations of the local population with economic returns from plantation activities, as Gabon continues to have a strong demand for wood-based exports.
The Life After Mine project has two aspects – a social agro-forestry component planting Eucalyptus and 2 Agriculture Skill Building Farms where interested youth are trained in practical aspects of agriculture through our team of agronomists. This 7 Ha farm produces fruits and vegetables for the local Ndjole market with an aim to create self-sufficiency in fresh fruits and vegetables. As on date more than 70 tons of fresh vegetables has been distributed to local markets at 1/3rd the price.
In extension of this, we have planned a similar farm in Oyem with the same objectives at a larger scale.
We partner and train the local communities to engage in production of agricultural staple foods to create self-sufficiency as well as plantation of commercially viable and fast growing plantation species for the quickly expanding domestic wood market.
ACM has taken a massive challenge of reforestry of mined areas which are prone to soil erosion. We actively take part in regeneration of mined areas, one step further than law’s requirement of keeping the land to regenerate naturally.
Since 2019, we have been studying and selecting species which are non-evasive, fast growing, economical. After studying more than more than 800 varieties, we are now working with 7 feasible types of plants and we wish to grow to more.
We plan to expand these programs in the near future to our other operating locations too.
Carbon sequestration – the practice of removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and storing it – is one of the many approaches being taken to tackle climate change, at ACM the reforestation of mined out areas which normally would have taken more than half a century to naturally reforest, replant them with fast growing trees. Not only to remove carbon from the atmosphere but also keep a check on soil erosion.
