Restoring Life to Mined Lands: How IBE and UM CASE-ESD, SMI, and MGB XII Are Leading Science-Based Forest Rehabilitation in Tampakan
n the heart of Tampakan, South Cotabato—within the Copper–Gold Project Area of Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI)—a quiet but transformative effort is taking root. Spearheaded by the Institute of Biodiversity and Environment and CASE-Environment Science Department of the University of Mindanao, a five-year collaborative research initiative is testing an innovative, science-driven approach to forest restoration in one of the most challenging environments: degraded mining landscapes.
Launched officially in October 2024, the project titled “Trial Planting of Mycorrhiza-Inoculated Forest Tree Species in a Copper–Gold Mining Environment” brings together academic expertise and industry partnership. The Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region XII (MGB Region XII) works closely with the University of Mindanao to evaluate how biological solutions can strengthen ecological rehabilitation strategies.
The initiative moves beyond traditional tree planting. It tests combinations of selected forest tree species and mycorrhizal inoculants to determine which pairings perform best in real-world mining conditions.
Mining and biodiversity conservation are often framed as opposing forces. However, this project demonstrates how scientific innovation and multi-sector collaboration can bridge that divide. Through partnerships among academia, industry, and government regulators, the initiative promotes a shared responsibility for long-term ecosystem recovery.
As the project progresses into its succeeding years, continued monitoring will track the performance of planted trees beyond initial establishment stages—evaluating resilience, ecological integration, and soil recovery over time.
In the once-disturbed soils of Tampakan, the early signs of renewal are beginning to show. With each inoculated seedling taking root, the University of Mindanao through the Institute of Biodiversity and Environment of the Research and Innovation Center affirms that restoration is not merely about planting trees—it is about restoring ecological relationships from the ground up.
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