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The widespread prevalence of illegal Artisanal Small-Scale Mining has raised significant concerns about its environmental and health impacts. This study investigates the effects of two mining methods (alluvial and chamfi) on soil physical, chemical, and microbial properties four years after mining in three municipalities of the Western Region of Ghana. The study identified four species of Aspergillus fungi (niger, flavus, ochraceous and fumigatus) and Trichoderma species in both mined and control soils. The quantity of A. fumigatus was significantly higher in control plots compared to mined plots. In alluvial sites, bacterial numbers were significantly higher in control plots than in mined plots, while in chamfi sites, bacterial numbers did not differ significantly between mined and control plots. Soil texture in both mined sites was predominantly sandy loam and loamy sand, with a generally high silt to clay ratio. Mined plots at both sites were significant and more acidic (p < 0.05) than the control plots. Additionally, cation exchange capacity (CEC), electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (P), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and magnesium (Mg2+) levels were significantly higher in control plots compared to mined plots. The control plots also exhibited higher base saturation and lower exchangeable acidity than mined plots. Bacteria count at Chamfi sites was generally higher at mined areas than the control sites, with the reverse being the case for Alluvial sites. Soil chemical parameters were higher at control areas than at mined sites, irrespective of the mining approach used. However, there was no clear pattern of differences in soil chemical properties at Chamfi and Alluvial mined sites. This study provides insights and additional perspectives for improving decision-making and guiding the potential restoration of these areas.

Artisanal Small-Scale mining (ASM) is a major land use activity in Ghana. Despite its tremendous contribution to livelihoods, ASM is largely unregulated in the country, illegally operated, leaving most mined out sites unrehabilitated. In this study, we explored the extent to which early succession naturally regenerating plants on two abandoned illegal artisanal small scale mined-out sites (Chamfi and Alluvial types) remediate heavy metals. The study was undertaken in three districts of the Western Region of Ghana. Plots were randomly established in the alluvial, chamfi and reference (control) sites. Within each plot, samples of soil and naturally regenerating plants were collected for determination of bioaccumulation potential, translocation and contamination factor of cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results revealed that the concentration of As, Cd, Hg, Pb from soil samples, as well as roots and shoots of the plants collected from the two mined sites were significantly higher than the concentrations in the samples from the control plots. Our results show that heavy metal removal is more significant in plants at the alluvial mined soils than those at the chamfi sites. C. pubescens, C. odorata, and M. pudica were observed to be better cadmium translocators than the other vegetations sampled. Furthermore, plants at the alluvial sites recorded higher Bioaccumulation Factor (BF) in the roots than those at the chamfi sites for lead and arsenic. The study implies that natural regeneration of early successional species can promote contaminant removal on abandoned artisanal mine sites. They however vary in their capacity to accumulate different metals on abandoned soils. Within the context of illegal ASM prevalence, our results suggest that efforts should be made to encourage and minimize disturbances to the growth of early succession plant species as short-term alternative measures in abandoned artisanal mined sites, where reclamation is often neglected.

Atewa Forest Reserve is a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area and Important Bird Area in Ghana. The reserve has lost over 10% and 35% of its close canopy and buffer zone respectively in the last twenty years. Increasing the status of the reserve to a National Park with a buffer zone has been recommended as the key intervention that could help achieve a more optimal flow of its benefits to people. It is, however, not clear if fringe communities whose livelihoods are directly linked to the reserve will support such intervention. To provide an indication of their potential level of support and appreciation of this recommendation, we used contingent valuation method with the double-bounded dichotomous choice approach and an open ended follow up question to estimate willingness to pay of members in the fringe communities. The majority were willing to donate a day's wage for 12 months to support the project if implemented. The estimated mean willingness to pay was Ghȼ 9.99, (US$ 2.22). Respondents' income level, age and initial bid offered are the main factors that influence respondents' willingness to pay. The policy implication and importance of understanding socio-economic characteristics of households in the process of designing such intervention is discussed in the paper.

Artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) is one of the essential rural non-agricultural livelihood activities in Ghana. However, basic and rudimentary practices and tools associated with ASM activities lead to vegetation and soil destruction. Given the limitation of state-sponsored reclamation of abandoned ASM sites, the role of natural recovery in abandoned mine sites is deemed a viable option, as it lowers financial obligations, promotes pioneer species and improves local ecology. The residual impacts of different ASM methods (alluvial or chamfi) and their implications for reclamation are less explored. Using a randomised sampling approach, one hundred and eight (108) plots representing 54 abandoned mined (27 alluvial and 27 chamfi) and 54 unmined areas (control plots) were demarcated for seedling and sapling assessments. A total of 6,157 seedlings belonging to 133 species and 4,536 saplings belonging to 42 species were recorded. Pielou's evenness and Shannon indices showed that both seedlings and saplings were equitably distributed between mined-out sites and their controls for both methods but showed evidence of environmental variability. This variability was more conspicuous in chamfi mined-out sites, confirming some degradation impacts. Chromolaena odorata (L.) and Mimosa pudica L. were the dominant seedlings recorded, while Hymenostegia afzelii (Oliv.) Harms and Musanga cecropioides M. Smithii R. Br. dominated the saplings. The alluvial method exerted a far greater effect on stand features such as basal area and stand density for saplings owing to its greater soil damage. Assisted restoration measures directed at abandoned mined sites can facilitate ecosystem recovery to a trajectory reminiscent of that of nearby undisturbed forests.