CSIR’s Magic With Trees

The decision by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR-Ghana to offer a glimpse into a peculiar way scientists may remove heavy metals left in the environment after mining activity is interesting, to say the least.

Commercial business interests might jump to the conclusion the move is a giveaway of trade secrets. However, scientists are given to exoteric language, and their formula to an end is minded by meticulous logic, the absence of the latter puts everything in disarray for the scientist. Non-scientists will be far-fetched from the solutions unless a gamble causes some magic.

In this article, the Director of CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), Prof. Dr. Daniel Ofori, reveals one of the niches of scientists which is thinking outside the box, and then subjecting experiments to rigorous tests before application or rejection.

In the figment of the astute scientist, the endemic pollution that occurs in mining communities or fallow lands that are mined could be neutralized with trees.

What sets scientists apart from laymen or persons without specialized knowledge in science, is that the non-scientist is most likely to plant trees of no consequence, whereas the professionals would have subjected plants to efficacy tests before turning them to the field.

Briefing The Ghana Report in Kumasi, Prof. Dr. Daniel Ofori noted that all forms of mining contaminate soils which in turn inhibit the growth of trees, exactly the conundrum that requires the uncanny sixth sense.

Part of CSIR’s considerations is to restore the integrity of lands. It recommends the planting of a nitrogen-fixing shrub such as Centrosema virginianum for nutrient-depleted lands. This plant species is also of great benefit when in a decayed state for it turns into organic manure in the soil.

Another special way for the amendment of destroyed soils is by applying Biochar. This is a lightweight black residue, made of carbon and ashes, applied to soil after the pyrolysis of biomass.  It is a thermal decomposition of material in high temperatures.

CSIR-Ghana is formulating plant breeds through biotechnologies that may absorb toxic deposits in soils, and this means the Council will advise on which species of trees to plant in mined areas, not only for land reclamation but also for its purgation of poisonous chemicals or heavy metals.

What are these heavy metals likely to be left in the environment by mining? Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury. All are percolated in soils and other systems. They can remain there for years with dire implications for humans and animals living in their catchments. By any means of contact, all living things suffer chronic organ failure toward death.

CSIR says trees absorbing chemicals in their tap roots constitute one of the savviest and cheaper means of getting rid of environmentally poisonous chemicals. It remains to be seen, the time trees may spend in their detoxification processes, and whether the trees that become new storage for poisonous heavy metals will be usable. Will animals survive if they take the foliage of such trees for pasture? What will the implications be for inhaling the smoke if the trees are burnt for charcoal?