| Title: |
Nature After Minerals: how mineral site restoration can benefit people and wildlife
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| Resource Type: |
document --> technical publication --> report
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| Country: |
United Kingdom
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| Year: |
2006 |
| Author 1/Producer: |
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
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| Other Authors/Producers: |
A M Davies
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| Author / Producer Type: |
Non-governmental organisations
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| Publisher: |
RSPB
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| Publisher City: |
Sandy, Beds, UK
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| Format (e.g. PDF): |
PDF
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| Size: (e.g. 20mb) |
5
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EUGRIS Keyword(s): |
Brownfields
Contaminated land-->Remediation options-->Remediation options overview
Contaminated land-->Wider impacts / sustainability-->Sustainable / green remediation
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| Short description: |
Extract: The RSPB has a long history of creating semi-natural habitats, often on postindustrial
land. Some of our most beautiful nature reserves are former
mineral extraction sites. Places like Dungeness and Fairburn Ings benefit not
only wildlife, but also local communities, providing attractive greenspace
where they can meet friends and family, take a gentle stroll, and be
surrounded by nature. Using local greenspace in this way, means people
improve both their physical and mental wellbeing. New nature reserves also
provide jobs and attract visitors, thereby supporting and generating economic
activity within local communities.
Creating priority wildlife habitats allows us to redress historical habitat loss. It
is exciting to be able to put something back – to help turn the tide of habitat
destruction. By increasing the area of priority habitats we can help ensure
the plants and animals that depend on them can expand in range and
population. In an increasingly uncertain world, where wildlife is under
pressure from challenges such as climate change and changing land-uses,
creating habitat can make species more resilient, increasing the chances of
future generations enjoying a country rich in biodiversity. Targets for habitat
creation are included in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, the UK
Government’s commitment to biodiversity.
Mineral sites offer a fantastic opportunity to contribute to these habitat
creation targets. Some wonderful examples already exist, as shown by the
case studies throughout this report. However, the scale of the opportunity
unearthed by this study certainly surprised me – the potential for habitat
creation is far in excess of what was previously understood. With the
possibility that habitat creation on mineral sites could exceed government
targets for many priority habitats, it is clear that such sites could provide a
lifeline for our wildlife.
This report sets out a vision of large-scale habitats being created on mineral
sites for people and for wildlife. Here is an opportunity for a major industry
and the planning system to work together with nature conservation
organisations to provide vast public good by making this vision a reality.
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Submitted By:
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Professor Paul Bardos WhoDoesWhat?
Last update: 23/03/2007
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