From sustainable forest management to sustainable mining: Using lessons learned of the Tropical Forest Foundation and Virginia Tech to develop a joint research and outreach program

The Tropical Forest Foundation (TFF) has developed a system that fosters sustainable forest management through best timber harvesting practices. The system, Reduced Impact Logging (RIL), ensures that forests are harvested using efficient utilization and harvest techniques including road building, skidding, and log merchandizing. Trial operations and training centers have been established in Guyana, Brazil, Indonesia and Central Africa. Several large forest products companies agreed to use the system and label their forest products as meeting the RIL standards. Many private sector and donor organizations support training local forest land managers and harvest equipment operators on how to minimize the impact of timber harvesting through RIL. We have found that RIL has had numerous positive impacts on the environment which include; decreased soil erosion, improved water quality in down gradient streams, harvesting practices that do not encourage wildlife or valuable plant poaching.

There is need to develop a similar set of guidelines for sustainable mining practices.  The joint TFF/VT program focused on issues surrounding sustainable mining that will involve faculty and students from several VT units including the departments of Geosciences, Wood Science and Forest Products, Forestry, and Mining Engineering. One of the goals of the program will be to reduce environmental impacts caused by mining in developing countries. The joint strategy will include a verifiable system to minimize the environmental impact of mining. For instance, training programs may include how to collect baseline data before mining operations begin, monitoring operations as they occur, and measuring the impacts and defining the needs to remediate at the completion of operations.

Our poster describes efforts –based on the RIL experience - to set sustainable mining standards and conduct training for the mining sector. Opportunities for research, extension/outreach, and study abroad and on-campus education and training programs will be explored and defined.

Tom Hammett, Department of Wood Science and Forest Products himal@vt.edu andand John Chermak, Department of Geosciences jchermak@vt.edu

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Key questions include: 1) Is sustainable mining possible?2) Do you have experience in issues associated with or

related to sustainable mining?3) Are you interested in collaborating on this effort?