Underground Explorers

Intensive gold mining activities in Central Sulawesi have caused severe soil degradation and ecosystem disruption within the biodiversity-rich Wallacea region. The extensive mining operations have compromised soil integrity and natural ecosystem recovery processes, creating an urgent need for effective restoration strategies. This study investigates the potential of indigenous mycorrhizal fungi as agents for ecological restoration in degraded mining soils. Mycorrhizae establish beneficial symbiotic relationships with plants, enhancing nutrient uptake, improving stress tolerance, and restoring soil structure. By identifying and characterizing stress-tolerant mycorrhizal fungi native to the region, this research aims to develop biologically-based restoration approaches that leverage below-ground biodiversity to accelerate ecosystem recovery and support sustainable land management practices in post-mining landscapes. The findings will contribute to understanding how indigenous soil microorganisms can be utilized for effective rehabilitation of degraded mining areas, ultimately supporting both biodiversity conservation and sustainable land use in one of the world's most biodiverse regions. This research addresses the critical need for scientifically-grounded restoration methods that can restore ecosystem function while preserving the unique endemic biodiversity characteristic of the Wallacea biogeographical region.