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Mining in Ecologically Sensitive LandscapesEdited by Mark Tibbett

August 2015

288 pages, Hardback

ISBN: 9780643106352

$120.00

Available as an eBook upon publication. Visit our website for more information:www.publish.csiro.au/eBooks

Mining in Ecologically Sensitive Landscapes explores the interface between geology and botany, and mining and conservation. Many areas of unusual geology that contain ore‑bearing bodies also support unique ecological communities of plants and animals. Increasing demand to exploit rich mineral deposits can lead to a conflict between mining and conservation interests in such landscapes.

This book brings together experts in the field of mining and conservation to grapple with this pressing issue and to work toward a positive outcome for all. Chapters are grouped into four themes: Introduction, Concepts and Challenges; Endemism in Ironstone Geosystems; Progress in Bauxite Mining; and Ways Forward.

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 contain can bring affluence of regional or even national importance.Sales in Australia and New Zealand only. All other customers should contact CRC Press.

CONTENTS

Introduction, concepts & challenges

1. Mining in ecological landscapes: concepts and challenges2. Mined land reclamation in the eastern USA coalfields: A case for an ecosystem reclamation approach 3. Hidden costs of mining in ecologically sensitive areas

Endemism in ironstone geosystems

4. Iron geosystems: priority areas for conservation in Brazil 5. Flora and vegetation surveys of the ironstone ranges of the Yilgarn Craton 6. Mining in sensitive environments – Lessons drawn from iron ore mining in the Yilgarn region of Western Australia

Progress in bauxite mining

7. Mining and ecological restoration in the jarrah forest of Western Australia 8. Recovery of terrestrial orchids in natural ecosystems after severe disturbance9. The mining-restoration system and ecosystem development following bauxite mining in a biodiverse environment of the seasonally dry tropics, Northern Territory, Australia

Ways forward

10. Key values of metallophytes for the minerals industry in Australasia 11. Away from Conflict: A new paradigm for industry, regional communities, environmental organisations and Traditional Owners to look after the Great Western Woodlands

Index

Mark Tibbett is a plant and soil scientist with over 20 years’ experience in research and teaching. He has worked for CSIRO as well as the university sector in the UK and Australia. He has published over 100 peer‑reviewed scholarly articles, is the Co‑Editor‑in‑Chief of the international journal Soil Research as well as being an associate 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.

ABOUT THE EDITOR

Mining in Ecologically SEnSitivE landScapES34

Kakadu National Park – AustraliaLocated in Australia’s north, Kakadu National Park contains two wetlands (Woolwonga and Magela, Fig. 3.1) both of which are listed under the Ramsar Convention and both of which support a strong indigenous cultural heritage spanning over 50 000 years. Subsequent definition of their ecological and cultural criteria as part of the World Heritage nom-ination process has marked Kakadu as an impor-tant culturally and ecologically sensitive area which is now under constant pressure from tour-ism, feral animals and industrial development associated with mining activities.

At landscape scale, Kakadu is an example of a complex of unique and sensitive ecosystems,

providing a habitat for over 1600 plant and 500 animal and bird species (United Nations Education Programme 2005), many of which are believed to be endemic, rare or threatened by extinction. For example, of the seven species of freshwater turtle found in Kakadu, the pig-nosed turtle (Carettoche-lys insculpta) is of significant scientific interest as it is the sole surviving member of a family that has undergone some 40 million years of independent adaptation to its environment. Kakadu also con-tains a significant portion of the total range of four species of fish: the exquisite rainbowfish (Melano-taenia exquisita), Mariana’s or the Magela hardyhead (Craterocephalus marianae), the sharp-nosed grunter (Syncomistes butleri) and Midgley’s grunter (Pingalla

Figure 3.1: the Magela wetland facing north from Ubirr rock where groups of aboriginal people camped in rock shelters and took advantage of the enormous variety of foods available from the East alligator river, the woodlands, and the surrounding stone country. (Photograph courtesy HD Smith).

04_Chapter_03.indd 34 23-10-2014 02:58:24

3 – HiddEn coStS of Mining in Ecologically SEnSitivE arEaS 39

habitat and network of food webs which include many endemic insects and arachnids. The nara melon (Acanthosicyos horrida) (refer Fig. 3.3b), although relatively scarce remains culturally important, being a popular and important part of the native Topnaar people’s diet, with other parts of the plant being used as medicines or a skin mois-turiser. Archaeological evidence indicates that it has been a staple food and was transported and perhaps even traded for at least 8000 years (Wilkins-Ellert 2004).

The ecological integrity of parts of the Namib-Naukluft Park is now at greater risk because of a planned increase in uranium mining in the area near Swakopmund. Five uranium mining licences have so far been issued and a further 11 are antici-pated, meaning that a greater focus on the capacity of this ecologically sensitive area to carry a massive cumulative impact is required. Information con-tained within Environmental Impact Assessments for new mines near Swakopmund (Digby Wells and Associates 2008; Turgis Consulting 2008) tends to indicate that direct and indirect impacts of ura-nium mining taking place in and around the region have the potential to profoundly alter a unique ecology and the way people perceive and use this section of the national park (Juergens 2008). Extinc-tions of species, loss of sense of place for residents

and visitors and a fracturing of the integrity of the Namib Desert may all occur should these projects proceed (Ministry of Mines and Energy 2010).

It is a concern that the rate at which progress to mining has occurred has already outpaced imple-mentation of the high standard of environmental, social and health and safety precautions that are needed to ensure sustainable and responsible devel-opment of the desert ecosystem. In addition, the positive and negative cumulative socio- economic and ecological impacts associated with the develop-ment of multiple uranium companies within the Namib Desert do not appear to be well understood. A strategic environmental assessment foreshad-owed in 2008 was completed in 2010 (Ministry of Mines and Energy 2010), several years after approval of the newer mines at Langer-Heinrich and Trekko-pje; and it is only recently that baseline values of the area have been qualitatively described (Henschel 2008) and the socio-economic aspects of biophysical degradation of the environment discussed (Hoad-ley and Limpitlaw 2008). No attempt has yet been made to formally evaluate either in monetary terms.

Risk to ecosystemsComplete prediction and evaluation of the impact of any mining activity on ecosystems is difficult

a b

Figure 3.3: Welwitschia habilis (left) and the !nara melon (Acanthosicyos horrida) (right): both important contributors to the ecosystem and socio-economics of the namib desert. (Photos courtesy HD Smith).

04_Chapter_03.indd 39 23-10-2014 02:58:26

CONTRIBUTORSMark Brundrett, School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia; James A Burger, Professor Emeritus, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA; Margaret Collins, School of Earth and Geographical Sciences and School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia; Iara C de Campos, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil; Flavio F do Carmo, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil; Felipe F do Carmo, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil; Neil Gibson, Science Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, WA; Dieter A Hinz, Ecological Restoration; Robert K Howard, Cliffs Asia Pacific Iron Ore Pty Ltd; Claudia M Jacobi, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil; Simon Judd, School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University; John M Koch, Alcoa Australia Ltd; John A Ludwig, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences; Adrienne S Markey, Science Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, WA; Rachel Meissner, Science Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, WA; Wayne O’Sullivan, The Great Western Woodland Collaboration; Howard D Smith, Northern Land Council, Darwin; Alister V Spain, School of Earth and Environment, The University of Western Australia; Wendy A Thompson, Science Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, WA; David J Tongway, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences; A van der Ent, Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland; Alexander WT Watson, School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University; James EM Watson, Global Conservation Programs, Wildlife Conservation Society, USA and The University of Queensland.