Gishwati forest is part of Gishwati-Mukura National Park. It has a long history of degradation due to human activities. Despite many efforts initiated to restore and protect this concession, the mining activities continue to affect its biodiversity. This study aims at assessing the impact of mining on the landscape, quality of water, soil, and vegetation in Gishwati and its vicinity. Data were collected from five mining sites and one non-mined control site. Methods included direct field observations of the landscape, physico-chemical analysis of water, mine tailings analysis and vegetation inventory, and measurement of the concentrations of metals/metalloids in both water and soil (mine tailings). The findings revealed that mining has accelerated the erosion and the stream/river sedimentation and has created new landforms around some mining sites. The physico-chemical properties of mine tailings piled and scattered on mining sites are not conducive for biodiversity, and the concentrations of metals and metalloids in the water and soil are generally higher on mining sites than on the non-mined area and even higher than international standards. Such high metal/metalloid concentrations threaten both aquatic and terrestrial life as they are likely to cause the extinction of a good number of vegetation species on mining sites. They may also cause toxicity and lead to migration of a variety of animals living in Gishwati. The study recommends the use of mining best practices to safeguard biodiversity in the Gishwati area.

Gishwati 森林是 Gishwati-Mukura 国家公园的一部分。由于人类活动，它有很长的退化历史。尽管为恢复和保护这一特许权做出了许多努力，但采矿活动继续影响其生物多样性。本研究旨在评估采矿对 Gishwati 及其附近地区的景观、水、土壤和植被质量的影响。数据是从五个采矿点和一个非采矿控制点收集的。方法包括景观的直接实地观察、水的物理化学分析、尾矿分析和植被清查，以及测量水和土壤（尾矿）中金属/准金属的浓度。调查结果显示，采矿加速了侵蚀和河流/河流的沉积，并在一些矿区周围创造了新的地貌。矿区堆放尾矿的理化性质不利于生物多样性，矿区水和土壤中金属和类金属的浓度普遍高于非矿区，甚至高于国际水平。标准。如此高的金属/类金属浓度威胁着水生和陆地生物，因为它们可能导致矿区大量植被物种灭绝。它们还可能导致毒性并导致生活在 Gishwati 的各种动物迁徙。该研究建议使用采矿最佳实践来保护 Gishwati 地区的生物多样性。矿区水和土壤中金属和类金属的浓度普遍高于非矿区，甚至高于国际标准。如此高的金属/类金属浓度威胁着水生和陆地生物，因为它们可能导致矿区大量植被物种灭绝。它们还可能导致毒性并导致生活在 Gishwati 的各种动物迁徙。该研究建议使用采矿最佳实践来保护 Gishwati 地区的生物多样性。矿区水和土壤中金属和类金属的浓度普遍高于非矿区，甚至高于国际标准。如此高的金属/类金属浓度威胁着水生和陆地生物，因为它们可能导致矿区大量植被物种灭绝。它们还可能导致毒性并导致生活在 Gishwati 的各种动物迁徙。该研究建议使用采矿最佳实践来保护 Gishwati 地区的生物多样性。如此高的金属/类金属浓度威胁着水生和陆地生物，因为它们可能导致矿区大量植被物种灭绝。它们还可能导致毒性并导致生活在 Gishwati 的各种动物迁徙。该研究建议使用采矿最佳实践来保护 Gishwati 地区的生物多样性。如此高的金属/类金属浓度威胁着水生和陆地生物，因为它们可能导致矿区大量植被物种灭绝。它们还可能导致毒性并导致生活在 Gishwati 的各种动物迁徙。该研究建议使用采矿最佳实践来保护 Gishwati 地区的生物多样性。