Mitigating heavy metal contamination in natural springs through traditional ecological knowledge on plants: Pathways toward sustainable mining practices and resource management

The local communities, particularly belonging to mineral-rich areas such as Marinduque, face challenges from heavy metal contamination. This study documents the traditional knowledge of the community in the utilization of plants for managing natural spring. Data were collected from ten key informants through interviews and guided walks. For comparative water analysis, samples were collected from the natural springs with and without the identified vegetation. The water samples were subjected to AAS analysis for Cu+2, Zn+2, and Pb+2. Eleven of the identified herbs were grown in a medium with known concentrations of Cu+2, Pb+,2 and Zn+2 in the laboratory for one week and analysed for accumulated heavy metals. The study identified 56 plant species, represented by 33 families. Species Dracontomelon, Dillenia, Nauclea and Duabanga, together with the Ficus, are most preferred by the old folks in cleaning natural springs. The water samples from vegetated springs showed permissible to negligible amounts of heavy metals as compared to those with no plants. The ferns showed high potentials in accumulating heavy metals. These findings show the value of traditional knowledge in the mitigation process and its relevance in the sustainable resource management in mining-affected landscapes.