Mine makeovers: How to turn pits into healthy habitats

Open-cast mines could be converted from blots on the landscape into havens for wildlife, with land restored straight after digging finishes, a new primer on post-mining landscapes has proposed.

The Primer on ecosystem reconstruction after mining is published in Current Biology. Professor Mark Tibbett, Chair of Soil Ecology at the University of Reading, authored the review.

Professor Tibbett said: “Today we mine mostly for resources that make up our everyday devices, like as our phones, but the impact of mining is very damaging to the environment. This need not be the case in the future. Better planning around excavations will mean mined landscapes can be reconstructed and flourish.

“Rehabilitating mines provides a safe and stable landscape to allow some form of productive, non-harmful, land use. This might include growing crops or developing new ecosystems.

“Successful rehabilitation lies in planning earlier and meticulously cataloguing and preserving the various rock layers and soil types encountered during excavation. Proper storage of soil resources acts as a time capsule, preserving seeds and nutrients that can significantly aid in the regeneration process."

Progressive rehabilitation

The review advocates for the implementation of "progressive rehabilitation”, a technique that involves restoring the land at the same time as the mining operation. This approach allows the natural restoration process to begin earlier, rather than facing the daunting task of addressing a vast, disturbed area at the end of the mining project. The success of the rehabilitation depends on meeting criteria including securing a large diversity of plants and animals.

The paper also highlights innovative techniques in post-mining landscape design, such as recreating natural physical features to mitigate erosion. Furthermore, it suggests that mining companies could utilise and reuse all extracted materials, including waste rock, for the reconstruction process. Professor Tibbett said: “Successfully rehabilitated lands have the potential to support a wide range of activities such as agriculture and eco-tourism. Global soil degradation affects more than 75% of the Earth's surface due to human activities. The restoration of mined lands offers a glimmer of hope that even the most heavily impacted environments can be revitalised.”

Read Post-mining ecosystem reconstruction by Mark Tibbett on Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.065