Can underground mining, as opposed to surface strip mining, protect biodiversity rich rainforests?

Dear critical-reader, if Ghanaian media reports are to be believed, the presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), H. E. Vice President Bawunia, apparently thinks that the solution to illegal gold mining is to give Chiefs equity stakes in mining concessions. Amazing. Whatever next, one wonders, lol?

With the greatest respect, any Africa leader, today, who leads a nation blessed with biodiversity rich rainforests, who doesn't understand that such forests are more valuable than all the mineral deposits underneath them, and must therefore be left untouched - and all mining banned from what are priceless natural capital that bedrock green economies worldwide: at a time when extreme weather, resulting from global climate change is impacting rural Africa so negatively, must swiftly be removed from power, by all means necessary to achieve that desired regime-change-outcome through free and fair ejections, ooooo, Ghanafuor. Yooooooooo...

Dr Bawunia (like most of the members of our bankrupted 4th Republic's criticism-averse political class), is obviously beholden to the powerful individuals in his party who are busy destroying vast tracts of rainforests across Ghana with total impunity. He mustn't be allowed to lead Ghana, under any circumstances, because of that. Full stop.

As our hard-of-hearing, greed-filled state-capture rent-seeking big-thieves-in-high-places have made it their business for our advice never to be heeded by Ghanaian officialdom, dear critical-reader, one will share with the world, Meta's WhatsApp's AI Llama 3's take was, when we posed the question: Can underground mining, as opposed to surface strip mining, protect forests?:

"Yes, underground mining can be a more forest-friendly option compared to surface strip mining. Here's why:

1. Less land disturbance: Underground mining requires smaller surface openings, reducing the impact on the forest ecosystem.

2. Preservation of habitat: The forest canopy and habitat remain intact, preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services.

3. Reduced soil erosion: Underground mining minimizes soil disturbance, reducing erosion and sedimentation in nearby waterways.

4. Lower risk of water pollution: Underground mining tends to have a lower risk of water pollution compared to surface mining, which can contaminate nearby water sources.

5. Improved reclamation: After mining, the surface area can be reclaimed and restored to its original state, maintaining the forest's integrity.

However, it's important to note that underground mining still has environmental impacts, such as:

1. Ground subsidence: Tunnel collapses can lead to surface subsidence, affecting forest ecosystems.

2. Water usage: Underground mining requires significant water resources, potentially impacting local water sources.

3. Energy consumption: Underground mining requires more energy than surface mining, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

Overall, underground mining can be a more forest-friendly option, but careful planning, execution, and reclamation are essential to minimize its environmental footprint."

End of Meta's WhatsApp's AI Lhama3 quoted answer to the question we posed to it: Can underground mining as opposed to surface strip mining protect forests?

Finally, dear critical-reader, clearly, at a time when global climate change is impacting rural Africa so negatively, what wise and aspirational Africans, such as the good people of Ghana, must demand from their hard-of-hearing, criticism-averse ruling elites is passage of legislation that bans all mining from the remainder of their bankrupted 4th Republic's priceless biodiversity rich rainforests. Full stop. Case closed. A word to the wise...