Abstract
ABSTRACT The Western Australia Government Agencies controlling environmental bond assessment and land relinquishment after mine decommissioning advocate proactive environmental management. Meeting environmental objectives ensures return of bond monies and facilitates release of the Company from environmental obligations. Completion criteria which confirm establishment of a self-perpetuating and resilient vegetation cover over mine waste are being developed. Quantitative assessment of ecological processes is the basis for development of completion criteria, and includes plant cover, revegetation density, species richness, and reproductive potential. Field sites are in arid ( desert: summer and more effective winter rainfall) and semi-arid ( semi-desert: Mediterranean) regions of Western Australia on Crown Land, with all but one being on pastoral (rangeland) leases. Post-mining land use generally reverts to maintaining the natural ecosystem or rangeland. Within this climatic zone very distinct vegetation communities are closely linked to soil substrate classification. Matching surface waste characteristics from a mine waste dump with those of surrounding analogue communities is the first step in determining an achievable vegetation cover.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Environment
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
