Present utilization and recommendations for management of tin-mine lakes in Malaysia

Abstract

Tin-mine lakes are a consequence of abandoned tin-mine pits, slime-retention pools and mining excavations becoming filled with water. There are approximately 4300 tin-mine lakes in Peninsular Malaysia, with a combined area of 16,440 ha. They are used for aquaculture, as water sources and for recreation, as well as for waste disposal and dumping. The physicochemical characteristics of the water in 41 such tin-mine lakes were highly variable with wide ranges. Indeed, most other inland waters in Malaysia have values that fall within the ranges recorded for the study lakes. The tin-mine lakes supported a diverse array of organisms including 55 aquatic macrophytes and 42 fish taxa. By drawing together information on the uses, biota (plants and fishes), and physicochemical features of tin-mine lakes, it is possible to classify them into five main groups: new lakes, acidic lakes, buffered lakes, aquaculture lakes, and post-aquaculture lakes. The main characteristics that differentiate lake categories are pH and the composition of floral communities.

Tin-mine lakes are generally isolated from one another, but several lakes with different physicochemical characteristics can occur in one locality. Because of the proximity of lakes of different types, tin-mine lakes and their surroundings have potential conservation or heritage value. This value includes their use as a sanctuary for aquatic wildlife (birds, fishes, reptiles, mammals); an arboretum of native aquatic plants; a gene pool for aquatic resources; and a resource for teaching and research.