Soil rehabilitation practices in a semiarid ecosystem affected by mining activities in northeastern Mexico

Abstract

Open pit mining represents an important economic development in northeastern Mexico; nevertheless this activity also brings environmental changes on well conserved ecosystems, especially those that take place near Natural Protected Areas (ANP by its initials in Spanish), reason why it’s necessary to ingrate restoration mechanisms in the production processes. In this research four test sites were established: (1) an area restored in 2003; (2) an area restored in 2008; (3) a site in a state of abandonment and; (4) a natural area; in the municipality of Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, Mexico. In the restored areas, slopes of 30° of inclination and a northeast exposure were created, as well as a reforestation program with adult native plants was established. In the witness area no reforestation and/or rehabilitation practices were performed, meanwhile in the natural area there were no use practices, being classified as an ecosystem baseline. There were a total of 640 individuals classified into 19 families and 39 species, composed by 14 woody plants, 16 succulents and 9 herbaceous. It was determined that restoration practices in semiarid communities, by incorporating tree adult species and the adequacy of slopes, provide favorable conditions for natural regeneration and are actions that promote colonization of other species in semiarid environments.