Indigenous environmental justice through coproduction of mining restoration supply chains in Australia

Abstract

Mining activities often cause displacement and disruption of Indigenous socio-cultural relations to land, water, biodiversity, and sacred entities. Due to the high disturbance and degradation that occurs as a result of mining on Indigenous lands, mine restoration and closure (MR&C) must mobilize the political agency of Indigenous Australians and provide enduring benefits beyond the life-of-mine. Here, we demonstrate that Indigenous engagements with mining restoration supply chains in Australia can only succeed if institutionalized socio-environmental inequalities are recognized and dismantled. Through environmental justice lenses, we examine critical mine restoration injustices and how Indigenous Australian participation can energize environmental self-determination. We analyze emerging restoration supply chains through the native seed collection and production activities as opportunities for nurturing transformative local collaborations, Indigenous entrepreneurship, and political participation. Our analysis shows the potential for community practices to coproduce MR&C through enduring partnerships, Indigenous-led organizations, and plural knowledge systems. Indigenous Australian leadership in coordinating investments, collaborations, techniques, and business operations is critical to transforming MR&C into democratic and equitable plans and actions on Indigenous lands where mining operates. When aligned with progressive institutional changes, restoration interventions can potentially strengthen environmental self-determination for Indigenous Australian political control over the customary use and stewardship of their lands.

Promoting Indigenous‐led restoration: The Seed and Nursery Industry Forum for Aboriginal Organisations, Northam, Western Australia, September 2022

“…Further challenges that were identified included the cost of seeds; pricing on a per kilogram basis; failing to capture essential information concerning seed quality; and seed size (Pedrini et al 2022), whilst simultaneously failing to adequately compensate for the collectors' expertise, time, and expenses (Urzedo et al 2022). Addressing the true value of seeds to reflect actual costs rather than artificial price ceilings based on values developed by the seed supply sector due to market manipulation could perhaps provide some optimism for collectors.…”

“…2022), whilst simultaneously failing to adequately compensate for the collectors' expertise, time, and expenses (Urzedo et al . 2022). Addressing the true value of seeds to reflect actual costs rather than artificial price ceilings based on values developed by the seed supply sector due to market manipulation could perhaps provide some optimism for collectors.…”

Advances in mining restoration

“…Mining activities often impact the Country of First Nations peoples. Urzedo et al (2022) examine through the environmental justice lens how engagement with Indigenous Australians can improve restoration policies, plans, actions, and outcomes with focus on a key component of restoration activities: the native seed supply chain. Urzedo et al (2022) show how the key foundation of mine site restoration plans should rely on the right of Indigenous communities to environmental self‐determination and the ongoing management of their Country.…”

“…Outcomes of the ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration Presented in this Special Issue Indigenous Involvement in Restoration Urzedo et al Indigenous Environmental Justice Through Coproduction of Mining Restoration Supply Chains in AustraliaMining activities often impact the Country of First Nations peoples Urzedo et al (2022). examine through the environmental justice lens how engagement with Indigenous Australians can improve restoration policies, plans, actions, and outcomes with focus on a key component of restoration activities: the native seed supply chain Urzedo et al (2022).…”

“…Outcomes of the ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration Presented in this Special Issue Indigenous Involvement in Restoration Urzedo et al Indigenous Environmental Justice Through Coproduction of Mining Restoration Supply Chains in AustraliaMining activities often impact the Country of First Nations peoples Urzedo et al (2022). examine through the environmental justice lens how engagement with Indigenous Australians can improve restoration policies, plans, actions, and outcomes with focus on a key component of restoration activities: the native seed supply chain Urzedo et al (2022). show how the key foundation of mine site restoration plans should rely on the right of Indigenous communities to environmental self-determination and the ongoing management of their Country.Topsoil DegradationD'Agui et al Evaluating Biological Properties of Topsoil for Post-Mining Ecological Restoration: Different Assessment Methods Give Different Results…”