Mine tailings ponds pose many environmental threats, such as acid mine drainage and heavy metal pollution. Abandoned tailings ponds pose a particularly great risk because there are no measures in place to prevent these threats. There have been virtually no efforts to restore and mitigate the consequences of tailings pollution due to the high cost of technological solutions and the complexity of their implementation.
Project "Nature" Sustains , supported by the TAUW Foundation and Narxoz University, aims to explore the best natural solutions to eliminate tailings pollution. The Nature project Sustains " consists of five stages:
Literature review on global best practices for natural solutions (NS) in relation to tailings pollution;
Development of a publication on tailings ponds suitable for nature-based solutions in Central Asia and, if applicable, depending on pre-identified sites, with transboundary impacts;
Data collection visit to two selected sites for which the identified natural solutions are most suitable;
Preliminary development of natural solutions for selected areas;
International consultations with stakeholders on the results/search for means for their application.
Results of the initial stages of the project
Phase 1 of the project demonstrated that there are significant opportunities to apply effective nature-based solutions to target sites in Central Asia and beyond. In parallel with Stage 1, an analysis of existing mine tailings ponds was carried out during Stage 2 of the project. In Kazakhstan alone, 121 tailings dumps were assessed. In addition, as part of the project, an analysis of tailings dumps in Kyrgyzstan was carried out. From main tailings dumps following plots were considered more details:
Tailings deposits in the village of Ak-Tyuz (Kyrgyzstan)
Tailings dumps of a fur factory in Ivanovka (Kyrgyzstan)