Opencast mining dramatically impacts the environment, and extractive companies are legally bound to restore the affected areas. This is not an easy task, however. Local characteristics and the type of restoration action might determine considerably different habitats and functionalities which frequently deviate from the intended goal. Unfortunately, this becomes apparent when it is already too late to correct the procedures without unacceptable costs.

To improve the success of restoration, more information is needed about the results of previous actions.

OUR EXPERTISE

The “Restoration of Mining Areas” research group, at the University of Barcelona, has long been focusing on this subject by coordinating, promoting and performing various studies, experiments and projects. The participation of students is of key relevance in these activities, as well as the constant and fruitful exchange of information with the extractive sector.

We are professionals who can help to rebuild damaged ecosystems because we know how they basically work and we try to understand how they respond to disturbances.

Nature’s complexity deserves all our attention and commitment. The more we learn, the more questions and challenges arise – but we progressively move towards more efficient restoration procedures.

Based on a knowledge-supported plan it is possible to convert a bare land into a woodland, in a relatively short time.

However, there are cases of unexplained failure, where natural “self-fixing” is uncertain or even improbable. Nature must be correctly helped from the beginning.

WHY THIS PROJECT

We now wish to analyse the evolution of the results from experimental procedures applied in 2005 to different Catalan quarries. These experiments and the first survey of the results were supported by the LIFE program (EcoQuarry project). In 2010, some of the involved companies sponsored a second survey of the vegetation. The results obtained 5 years after the onset of the experiments helped to correct some of our initial conclusions and to detect unpredicted developments, but was still insufficient to help us decide which procedures were the best. A third survey now would provide the information we need. Moreover, it would allow to evaluate the contribution of the experimental areas to CO2 sequestration and to show the negative impact of long-lasting barren/desertified (i.e. non-restored) lands.

Why your participation/contribution

Restoring wounded environments concerns all of us. Those directly responsible for the damage helped these studies so far. It is your turn now!

The crucial final step is a small one: it requires a short period of work and a relatively small funding – but, for such reasons, it is difficult to obtain the necessary support from conventional sources.

Why is this important

We believe that the conclusions from this prolonged survey of the vegetation developed in the 4 experimental sites will provide very useful guidelines to improve future procedures. Restored quarry areas will be better and more rapidly and sustainably integrated in the landscape if we help Nature in the right way, thus promoting particular habitats and biodiversity in these damaged areas.

What is your contribution for

The funding raised with this project will primarily cover the expenses with travels (c. 30) to the study areas (Garraf, Vallirana and Alcanar), from autumn 2016 to late spring 2017. Together with the costs of grants for 2 students, this amounts to about 5800 Euros; the rest should cover management expenses.

About the rewards

We want you to know what is accomplished when ecological criteria are used in restoration, and will e-mail you all the dissemination outputs of the project. You will then be able to judge for yourself about the success of the restoration and to send us your personal opinion.

We will also organize a public presentation of the results, including a brief explanation of the mine restoration issues. If you are not able to attend but are willing to pledge a higher sum, a photographic report of the work and of the studied areas will be offered to you, as well as a description of the main plant species and a summary of the public session.

We hope this project deserves your attention and support!
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Planned calendar

This project ends by late October 2017 and the rewards are delivered by December 2017.

Interesting links

Presentation of our research group Grup de Restauració ambiental de pedreres i talussos

website Master program “Ecology, Environmental Management and Restoration

Blog restauración de espacios mineros

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