Cost analysis and ecological benefits of environmental recovery methodologies in bauxite mining

Abstract

This work analyzed and compared three methods of environmental recovery in bauxite mining commonly used in Poços de Caldas Plateau, MG, by means of recovery costs and ecological benefits. Earnings and costs data of environmental recovery activities were obtained for the areas that belonged to the Companhia Geral de Minas -CGM, on properties sited in the city of Poços de Caldas, MG. The amount of costs of these activities was used to compare the recovery methods by updating them monetarily to a reference date, in other words, the present moment. It is concluded that the difference between the present value of costs for simple restoration and rehabilitation activities are less than 1% and that between the complete restoration and rehabilitation is about 15.12%, suggesting that the choice of the methods to be used must be based on the ecological earnings proportional to each of them. The methodology of environmental restoration of the mining areas emphasizes the ecological variables in the process of establishment of the community, to the detriment of complex ecological aspects, which show difficulties in measuring the actual moment of the development of the ecosystem considered.Key words: Mining, cost analysis, environmental restoration, environmental rehabilitation. ANÁLISE DOS CUSTOS E BENEFÍCIOS ECOLÓGICOS DE METODOLOGIAS DE RECUPERAÇÃO AMBIENTAL EM MINAS DE BAUXITA RESUMO: Neste trabalho, objetivou-se analisar e comparar três métodos de recuperação ambiental de áreas mineradas de bauxita comumente utilizadas na região do Planalto de Poços de Caldas, MG, por meio dos custos de recuperação e dos benefícios ecológicos. Obtiveram-se dados de rendimentos e custos das atividades de recuperação ambiental em áreas pertencentes à Companhia Geral de Minas -CGM, em propriedades localizadas no município de Poços de Caldas, MG. Para comparar os métodos de recuperação, utilizaram-se os valores dos custos dessas atividades, atualizando-os monetariamente para uma data de referência

Multifunctional soil recovery during the restoration of Brazil's Atlantic Forest after bauxite mining

“…In other words, the restoration of a mined area relies on the degradation of a conserved area, so although it may work at the local scale, this restoration approach is not effective at the landscape scale and may still result in net environmental losses. A study performed at the same study area found that restoration implementation and maintenance costs increase by 35% when forest topsoil is used, and this difference would be even higher if topsoil transport and distribution costs were considered (Guimarães et al., 2013). Thus, traditional restoration approaches are cheaper, yet not as effective as those based on topsoil transfer (Guimarães et al., 2013).…”

“…A study performed at the same study area found that restoration implementation and maintenance costs increase by 35% when forest topsoil is used, and this difference would be even higher if topsoil transport and distribution costs were considered (Guimarães et al., 2013). Thus, traditional restoration approaches are cheaper, yet not as effective as those based on topsoil transfer (Guimarães et al., 2013). Therefore, it is important to improve the efficiency of topsoil use, by creating strategies to use a shallower layer so as to restore a larger area with the same amount of topsoil, and continue searching for alternatives for the recovery of degraded soils in mining areas.…”

“…A study performed at the same study area found that restoration implementation and maintenance costs increase by 35% when forest topsoil is used, and this difference would be even higher if topsoil transport and distribution costs were considered (Guimarães et al, 2013). Thus, traditional restoration approaches are cheaper, yet not as effective as those based on topsoil transfer (Guimarães et al, 2013).…”