5-Year Research Initiative Tests Science-Driven Forest Restoration in Mining Landscape

Davao City, Philippines — In the heart of Tampakan, South Cotabato, within the Copper–Gold Project Area of Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI), a transformative research initiative is redefining how ecological restoration can take place in degraded mining environment: degraded mining landscapes.

Spearheaded by the Institute of Biodiversity and Environment and the CASE–Environment Science Department of the University of Mindanao, the five-year collaborative research project titled “Trial Planting of Mycorrhiza-Inoculated Forest Tree Species in a Copper–Gold Mining Environment” officially launched in October 2024.

The initiative brings together academic expertise, industry partnership, and regulatory support. Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region XII (MGB Region XII) are working closely with UM researchers to evaluate how biological solutions can enhance ecological rehabilitation strategies in challenging post-mining landscapes.

Moving Beyond Traditional Tree Planting

Rather than relying solely on conventional reforestation methods, the project tests combinations of selected forest tree species and mycorrhizal inoculants beneficial fungi that enhance nutrient uptake to determine which pairings demonstrate the highest survival rate and adaptability under real-world mining conditions.

Mining and biodiversity conservation are often viewed as opposing forces. However, this research initiative illustrates how science-based innovation and multi-sector collaboration can bridge that divide. Through cooperation among academia, industry, and government regulators, the project promotes shared responsibility for long-term ecosystem recovery.

Year One Milestone Achieved

Last February 5–6, 2026, the project reached a critical milestone with the completion of the final round of field monitoring for its first year of implementation. This phase focused on validating early-stage rehabilitation outcomes , a crucial step in assessing measurable progress and determining the long-term viability of the strategy.

As the initiative progresses into its succeeding years, continued monitoring will evaluate tree resilience, ecological integration, and soil recovery beyond the initial establishment stage.

In the once-disturbed soils of Tampakan, early signs of renewal are beginning to emerge. With each inoculated seedling taking root, the University of Mindanao, through its Institute of Biodiversity and Environment under the Research and Innovation Center, affirms that restoration is not merely about planting trees it is about rebuilding ecological relationships from the ground up.