Integrated Bio-cycle System for Rehabilitation of Open-Pit Coal Mining Areas in Tropical Ecosystems

Tropical rainforests are often called the “lungs of the planet” because they produce oxygen, which helps regulate carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Open-pit coal mining in tropical forests exposes carbon and heavy metals and thus is a main cause of severe local, regional, and global environmental damage. The paradigm shift from mining to natural resources empowerment provides a new opportunity to change from red and green economic concepts to blue, which is smarter, wider, global, deeper, focused, sustainable, and futuristic. Tropical natural resources have the highest productivity in the world but still have a relatively low economic value. The net primary production in tropical ecosystems is more supported by the rapid bio-cycling than the almost infertile, weathered, acidic soil, which is caused by the high rainfall, moisture, temperature, and light intensity over a period of one year. Genetic engineering using fast-growing species (exotic and indigenous) and site engineering through land preparation and soil amendment facilitate the rehabilitation of post-coal mining areas and add value to the environment, economy, sociocultural setting, and health. An integrated bio-cycle system (IBS) is an almost natural ecosystem based on landscape ecological management for managing land resources (i.e., soil, water, mineral, air, and microclimate) and biological resources (i.e., fauna, flora, and human) under one integrated area; it is an important strategy for sustainable productivity in tropical ecosystems. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.