Establishment of Flora
![Picture](/uploads/2/0/1/1/20115171/5089058.jpg?326)
Flora re-establishing (NSW Mining, 2011)
The establishment of flora and vegetation communities has a number of benefits once the mine has closed. These benefits include protecting quality of water, maintaining the water table, reduce the impact of erosion, and to promote native vegetation. The establishment of vegetation communities is one of the main long term goals of rehabilitating a mine site once it has been closed and decommissioned.
Implementation
The most effective combination of revegetation methods includes:
(Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry, 2006)
In using a combination of these methods, not only does the vegetation have the best opportunity to thrive, but the rehabilitation and visual amenity can occur sooner. This is because of the different stages of the vegetation being used, such as seedlings, transplants, and recolonising, which will result in the vegetation growing at different stages rather than the whole area starting from seeds.
Areas which are suffering from erosion require attention sooner than other areas. In these areas, grass may be established quickly, and then supplemented by the planting
of seedlings and transplants at a later stage (Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry, 2006). Establishing the flora community in stages like this can lead to a thriving community, given that any issues can be addressed as they come up, rather than the traditional mass planting method.
- Returning used topsoil
- Seeding and hydro-seeding
- Planting of seedlings
- Transplanting
- Recolonisation
(Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry, 2006)
In using a combination of these methods, not only does the vegetation have the best opportunity to thrive, but the rehabilitation and visual amenity can occur sooner. This is because of the different stages of the vegetation being used, such as seedlings, transplants, and recolonising, which will result in the vegetation growing at different stages rather than the whole area starting from seeds.
Areas which are suffering from erosion require attention sooner than other areas. In these areas, grass may be established quickly, and then supplemented by the planting
of seedlings and transplants at a later stage (Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry, 2006). Establishing the flora community in stages like this can lead to a thriving community, given that any issues can be addressed as they come up, rather than the traditional mass planting method.
Evaluation
![Picture](/uploads/2/0/1/1/20115171/810983.jpg?367)
The begining of flora re-establishment (Flora and Fauna International, 2011)
EMM Resources will implement a process of constant monitoring and maintenance to ensure that the rehabilitation is successful. This includes keeping detailed documentation on the soil, climate, topography and species of vegetation used. In monitoring these, establishment trends can be recorded, and should the need arise new actions can be implemented. In the long term, these trends can be used to improve the accuracy and success of establishing flora communities at different sites in the future.
References
Flora and Fauna International. (2011). Helping Anglo
American’s Minas Rio Mine Protect Biodiversity. Retrieved May 21, 2013,
from
http://www.fauna-flora.org/helping-anglo-american%E2%80%99s-minas-rio-mine-protect-biodiversity/
Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry. (2006). Mine Rehabilitation. Retrieved May 14, 2013, from http://www.minerals.org.au/file_upload/files/resources/enduring_value/mine_rehab.pdf
NSW Mining. (2011). Miners restoring River Red Gums. Retrieved May 21, 2013, from
http://www.worldclassminers.com.au/news/environment/Miners-restoring-River-Red-Gums
Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry. (2006). Mine Rehabilitation. Retrieved May 14, 2013, from http://www.minerals.org.au/file_upload/files/resources/enduring_value/mine_rehab.pdf
NSW Mining. (2011). Miners restoring River Red Gums. Retrieved May 21, 2013, from
http://www.worldclassminers.com.au/news/environment/Miners-restoring-River-Red-Gums