Bringing Life Back to a Former Gold Mine with Native Reforestation
The MORFO team is pleased to share that the forest restoration of a former alluvial gold mine in Amazonia has been officially validated. This project, located in Crique Korossibo, French Guiana, marks MORFO’s first reforestation initiative, launched in February 2022. Spanning 20.74 hectares, it holds a carbon stock potential of 9,412 tons CO₂eq.
CHALLENGES
This project faced extreme degradation due to alluvial gold mining, leaving the soil highly acidic (pH 4.35) and prone to erosion. With only 0.3% initial vegetation cover, restoring soil fertility and promoting natural regeneration were key. The remote location, accessible only by air, also posed logistical challenges.
DEPLOYMENTS
Before deployment, seeds were treated and seedpods produced. The fieldwork lasted two days, with a two-person team, one drone, and a limited load to accommodate transportation constraints.
PROJECT MONITORING
The site is monitored every three months using satellite and drone imagery. On-site visits provide detailed analysis, tracking vegetation growth, soil stabilization, and overall restoration progress.
Project deployment: seed treatment, seedpod production, and on-site planting.
Monitoring updates with follow-up visits and image capture.
Continued monitoring confirms progress in vegetation recovery.
Bare soil cover reduced to 17%, vegetation cover increased to 78%. Project officially validated after three years of restoration.
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