Post-mining landscapes and their endogenous development potential for small- and medium-sized towns: Examples from Central Europe

Abstract

Material post-mining legacies are often the most obvious reminder of former industrial excavation activities; either as open-cast mines or in the form of mining heaps and dumps, disused infrastructure, or remaining buildings. Depending on the actual regulations by which individual mining activities were closed, and related ownership issues, various states of reconversion of mining sites can be found across Europe. Especially in small and medium-sized towns these legacies can form significant burdens to local and regional development initiatives. Nevertheless, as some good practice examples show, these legacies can also be used to develop more sustainable development opportunities after mines have closed which can interconnect such areas past, present and future to form new green areas, renewable energy production facilities, and new tourism products. This article focuses on the concept of natural post-mining potentials and discusses the changing character of their utilisation with regards to regional development in the context of small and medium-sized towns. It highlights lessons learnt from Central European examples and assesses the development impacts connected to locally-led development processes in post-mining regions.