Mining in Ecologically Sensitive Landscapes

286 Pages·2012·18.772 MB·English

by  Mark Tibbett

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Mining in Ecologically Sensitive Landscapes explores the interface between geology l
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and botany, and mining and conservation. Many areas of unusual geology that contain
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ore-bearing bodies also support unique ecological communities of plants and animals. S
increasing demand to exploit rich mineral deposits can lead to a conflict between mining i
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and conservation interests in such landscapes.
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this book brings together experts in the field of mining and conservation to grapple with S
this pressing issue and to work toward a positive outcome for all. Chapters are grouped into g
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four themes: introduction, Concepts and Challenges; Endemism in ironstone geosystems;

Progress in bauxite Mining; and Ways Forward. ivin
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the book focuses on natural and semi-natural ecosystems, where landscape beauty,
biodiversity and conservation value are at their highest measure and the mineral wealth they
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contain can bring affluence of regional or even national importance. Examples of conflicts
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ranging from threatened floristic endemics to human ecology are included, from africa, the
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americas and australasia.
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Mining in Ecologically Sensitive Landscapes is an important reference for environmental
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managers, ngos, restoration ecologists, academics, undergraduate and postgraduate
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students of ecology and environmental studies, conservation biologists, as well as
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mine managers, mining environmental specialists, consultants, regulators and relevant
government departments. p
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About the editor S
Professor Mark Tibbett is a plant and soil scientist with over 25 years’ experience in
research and teaching. He specialises in element cycling and plant–microbe–soil interactions
Mining in
with particular interest in soil microbial ecology, mycorrhiza and the rhizosphere. Having
completed postdoctoral, academic and industry appointments in the Uk, he spent 10 years
in australia at CSiro Land & Water and as the director of the Centre for Land rehabilitation
Mark Ecologically
at the University of Western australia. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed scholarly
articles, is the Co Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Soil Research and an associate TibbeTT
editor of the Australian Journal of Botany and Restoration Ecology. He was an instigator
and remains a co-chair of the global ‘Mine Closure’ series of conferences. He is currently SEnSitivE landScapES
Professor of Soil Ecology at the University of reading, Uk.
Editor: Mark tibbEtt
Mining in Ecologically Covers Final.indd 1 26/05/15 9:39 AM
MINING IN
ECOLOGICALLY
SENSITIVE LANDSCAPES
Mining in Ecologically Title Page.indd 1 21/11/14 12:27 PM
To my parents, for their love and support
MINING IN
ECOLOGICALLY
SENSITIVE LANDSCAPES
EDITOR: MARK TIBBETT
Mining in Ecologically Title Page.indd 2 21/11/14 12:27 PM
© Mark Tibbett 2015
All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Australian Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent amendments, no part of
this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, duplicating or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Contact CSIRO Publishing for
all permission requests.
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry
Mining in ecologically sensitive landscapes / Mark Tibbett, editor.
9780643106352 (hardback)
9780643106369 (epdf)
9780643106376 (epub)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Mines and mineral resources – Environmental aspects.
Biotic communities – Effect of mining on.
Conservation of natural resources.
Ecosystem management.
Environmental responsibility.
Social responsibility of business.
Tibbett, Mark, editor.
333.8517
Published exclusively in Australia and New Zealand by
CSIRO Publishing
Locked Bag 10
Clayton South VIC 3169
Australia
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.publish.csiro.au
Published exclusively throughout the world (excluding Australia and New Zealand) by CRC Press/Balkema, with ISBN 978-0-415-62091-8
CRC Press/Balkema
P.O. Box 11320
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The Netherlands
Tel: [phone]
Website: www.crcpress.com
Front cover: Mining and restoration in banded ironstone formation geology in Western Australia (photo: Rob Howard).
Set in 10.5/14 Palatino & Optima
Edited by Jane Kunstler
Cover design by James Kelly
Typeset by Thomson Digital
Index by Bruce Gillespie
Printed in China by 1010 Printing International Ltd
CSIRO Publishing publishes and distributes scientific, technical and health science books, magazines and journals from Australia to a
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Original print edition:
The paper this book is printed on is in accordance with the
rules of the Forest Stewardship Council®. The FSC® promotes
environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and
economically viable management of the world’s forests.
Contents
List of contributors vii
Technical reviewers ix
Introduction, concepts and challenges 1
1 Mining in ecologically sensitive landscapes: concepts and challenges 3
Mark Tibbett
2 Mined land reclamation in the Appalachian coalfields: a case
for an ecosystem reclamation approach 7
James A Burger
3 Hidden costs of mining in ecologically sensitive areas 29
Howard D Smith
Endemism in ironstone geosystems 53
4 Iron geosystems: priority areas for conservation in Brazil 55
Claudia M Jacobi, Flávio F do Carmo, Felipe F do Carmo
and Iara C de Campos
5 Flora and vegetation surveys of the ironstone ranges of the
Yilgarn Craton 79
Neil Gibson, Rachel Meissner, Adrienne S Markey
and Wendy A Thompson
6 Lessons drawn from iron ore mining in the Yilgarn region
of Western Australia 95
Robert K Howard
Progress in bauxite mining 109
7 Mining and ecological restoration in the jarrah forest of
Western Australia 111
John M Koch
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vi Mining in EcoLogicaLLy SEnSiTivE LandScapES
8 Recovery of terrestrial orchids in natural ecosystems after
severe disturbance 141
Margaret Collins and Mark Brundrett
9 the mining-restoration system and ecosystem development
following bauxite mining in a biodiverse environment of the
seasonally dry tropics of Australia 159
Alister V Spain, Mark Tibbett, Dieter A Hinz, John A Ludwig
and David J Tongway
Ways forward 229
10 Key values of metallophytes for the minerals industry
in Australasia 231
Antony van der Ent
11 A collaborative approach for mining, environment
organisations and traditional owners to manage and
conserve biodiversity in Australia’s Great Western Woodlands 251
Alexander WT Watson, Simon Judd, Wayne O’Sullivan and
James EM Watson
index 265
LIst oF ContRIButoRs
Mark Brundrett Claudia M Jacobi
Department of Parks and Wildlife, Swan Region, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciên-
Australia II Drive, Crawley, WA 6000; Post: Locked cias Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas
Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA, 6983 Gerais, Brazil
Australia
Simon Judd
James A Burger School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan Univer-
Professor Emeritus, Virginia Polytechnic Institute sity, Joondalup, WA 6027 Australia
and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
John M Koch
Margaret Collins
Alcoa Australia Ltd
Faculty of Science, The University of Western
Australia, Crawley, WA 6009 Australia John A Ludwig
CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Atherton, QLD
Iara C de Campos
Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciên- Adrienne S Markey
cias Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Science and Conservation Division, Department of
Gerais, Brazil Parks and Wildlife, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Deliv-
ery Centre, WA 6983 Australia
Flávio F do Carmo
Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciên-
Rachel Meissner
cias Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas
Science and Conservation Division, Department of
Gerais, Brazil
Parks and Wildlife, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Deliv-
Felipe F do Carmo ery Centre, WA 6983 Australia
Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciên-
Wayne O’Sullivan
cias Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas
The Great Western Woodland Collaboration, 2
Gerais, Brazil
Delhi St, West Perth, WA 6005 Australia
Neil Gibson
Howard D Smith
Keiran McNamara Conservation Science Centre,
Northern Land Council, Darwin, NT Australia
Science and Conservation Division, Department of
Parks and Wildlife, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Deliv- Alister V Spain
ery Centre, WA 6983 Australia School of Earth and Environment, The University
of Western Australia, Perth, WA Australia
Dieter A Hinz
Ecological Restoration, PO Box 92, Crows Nest,
Wendy A Thompson
QLD 4355 Australia
Science and Conservation Division, Department of
Robert K Howard Parks and Wildlife, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Deliv-
Cliffs Asia Pacific Iron Ore Pty Ltd ery Centre, WA 6983 Australia
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viii Mining in EcoLogicaLLy SEnSiTivE LandScapES
Mark Tibbett Alexander WT Watson
Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan Univer-
Agriculture Policy and Development, University of sity, Joondalup, WA 6027 Australia
Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6AR, UK
James EM Watson
David J Tongway Global Conservation Programs, Wildlife Conserva-
School of Environmental and Rural Science, Uni- tion Society, 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx NY 10460
versity of New England, Armidale, NSW, USA; and The University of Queensland, The Ecol-
Australia ogy Centre, QLD 4072 Australia
Antony van der Ent
Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, Sustainable
Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland,
Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
teCHnICAL RevIeWeRs
The editor thanks the following people who con- Tim Lardner
tributed their time and expertise as reviewers of The University of Western Australia
the manuscripts for Mining in Ecologically Sensi-
Pieter Poot
tive Landscapes. A technical and critical review
The University of Western Australia
of each chapter was undertaken by a minimum
of two independent reviewers for the production David Roberts
of this book. University of Kent
Juliet Rose
Jim Burger
Post-mining Alliance, Eden Project
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Robert Simmons
Mark Brundrett
Cranfield University
The University of Western Australia
Howard Smith
Mark A Clements
Cliffs Natural Resources
CSIRO
Alister Spain
Augustine Dornilla
The University of Western Australia
University of Melbourne
David Tongway
Sonia Finucane
CSIRO
Bioscope Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd
Peter Whitbread-Abrutat
Neil Gibson
Wardell Armstrong International
Department of Environment and Conservation
David Jasper
Outback Ecology
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