Abstract:
Since the Industrial Revolution in 18 century, technologies and technical know-hows take their progressive paths step by step, leading to a rapid expansion of industries. The countries which are endowed with mineral resources, hence, could have benefits on their economy exploiting those resources. For Thailand, mining is a prevalent economical activity in the Southern part, particularly in Amphoe Takuapa Changwat Phang-nga where tin mining is mostly found. In mining process, forests have to be denuded in order to open the area then water will be powerfully squirted into the bare land in order to wash out the mixed soils, gravels, rocks and minerals to get screened later. Therefore, the area which is corrugated after the mining is through will be comprised of 2 typical parts of land forms. The first are tailings which are high mounds of earth, sands, and gravels. The second are mining ponds which are the shallow puddles big and small scattering all over the abandoned mine land. This mining process will destroy structure of soils and deplete its fertility as the soil surface is washed away. Most of the abandoned mine land will be discarded without any useful development while the problem of population increase which aggravates unemployment problem and needs of cultivated areas is acute and leading to deforestation for slash-and-burn cultivation and illegal land occupation. This-ill-landused phenomenon seems to get its full momentum which will even-tually lead to environmental, economical and social problems. In order to mitigate the problems, the abandoned mine land which are vast, left-unutilized areas should get improved, reclaimed and developed in order to utilize the areas to the full benefit of the communities, on environ-mental, economical and social wise. In this study, field survey has been conducted together with using maps and aerial photos in order to realize the physical character-istics of the abandoned mine land in Amphoe Takuapa Changwat Phang-nga. Also, development guidelines and concepts for such area both in Thailand and form abroad, are reviewed to help lay out landuse plan for the abandoned mine land. According to the study, the abandoned mine land in Amphoe Takuapa Changwat Phang-nga covers the area of 41,486 rai, with 124 mining ponds in existence. Therefore, development guidelines should devided into 2 approaches. Firstly for tailing areas the others for mining-ponds. The former approach of development guidelines, according to its physical features, are as follow :- 1. Reafforestation area. In environmentally critical areas like mangrove forests and hilly terrains of water-shed areas should be reserved and restored its original conditions as much as possible. 2. Area suitable for agriculture. Alluvial plains which are more fertile than other areas should be developed for agriculture. 3. Area suitable for grazing area. The upland zone which is free from floods should be developed to be grazing area. 4. Area suited for community expansion. The areas connected with Takuapa Municipality which infrastructures are available there should be developed for built-up area. The latter approach for mining ponds development guidelines are summed up as follow :- 1. Fresh water fishery should be developed in mining ponds which are not affected by the sea water 2. Saline water fishery could be developed in mining ponds with the sea water access. 3. The mining pond in community expansion area can be reserved for water resources of fire fighting or pipe water purposes, in case of their water quality are fully examined. Besides, the mining ponds in areas developed for agriculture could be the water resource of the cultivation. The aforementioned improvement, reclamation and development guidelines for the abandoned mine land are utmostly in need of helps and good cooperation from various concerned agencies, namely the Mineral Resources Development, the Land Development Department, the Department of Forestry, the Department of Fisheries, and the local authorities like the municipality and district administrations. As for development budget, it is feasible should the government allocate a sum of budget called Special Maintenance Fund which are collected from the mining concessionaires about 5 per cent of the mine revenues. And the Mineral Resources Department will be the responsible agency allocating such funds for the authorities concerned in The abandoned mine land development in order to carry out their programmes and projects.