Restoring coal mine degraded lands in India for achieving the United Nations‐Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities substantially altered the ecosystem's functioning and most of them are directly or indirectly responsible for biodiversity loss, land degradation, and climate change. Therefore, maximizing the conservation of natural capital and restoring the potential of the natural ecosystems are essential to sustain life on this planet. Where most of the economic activities are coupled with environmental degradation, the reestablishment of ecosystem attributes is a vital part of global conservation strategies. Mining activities cause inevitable loss of ecological structure and functions, while restoration of mine degraded lands provides an opportunity to reinstate ecological integrity and to develop a self‐sustaining ecosystem. However, it cannot be possible without learning from our experience, scientific research, community participation, traditional knowledge, political support, and economic backup. Here, we summarize some of the field observations explicitly based on the restoration of coal mine degraded lands in India. Experiences based on the practical approaches of ecosystem restoration highlight the key role of physical aspects of restoration, selection of plant species for biological restoration, and its combined effect on generating socioeconomic and environmental benefits. We recommend the inclusion of a site‐specific restoration plan, native species for reforestation, and involvement of the local community in restoration programs. Moreover, they are essential to attain the United Nations‐Sustainable Development Goals (UN‐SDGs) particularly, reduce poverty and hunger, provide affordable and clean energy, mitigate climate change, and reestablish life on degraded lands.

Native Plant Species: a Tool for Restoration of Mined Lands

“…The importance of physical features of restoration, the choice of plant species for biological restoration, and their combined impact on creating socioeconomic and environmental advantages are highlighted through practical approaches that are feasible for ecosystem restoration. Ahirwal and Maiti (2021) advise including a site-specific restoration strategy, using native plants for replanting, and including the neighborhood in restoration initiatives. In addition, they are crucial for achieving the UN-Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs), which include eradicating poverty and hunger, supplying affordable and clean energy, reducing global warming, and restoring life to damaged lands.…”

Ecosystem restoration in India during the United Nations decade on ecosystem restoration: the way forward

“…There have been various empirical studies on the restoration of mining areas. The collection of these case studies and linking their success to SDGs are featured in a paper in this section (Ahirwal & Maiti 2022). It provided pivotal technical information for the restoration of coal mining lands.…”

Deploying microbes as drivers and indicators in ecological restoration

“…In response to the worldwide destruction and degradation of ecosystems, the United Nations (UN) declared 2021–2030 as the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which recognizes the need to globally restore the degraded ecosystems at an accelerated rate to reinstate their ability to provide essential services and benefits (UNEP 2019). Recreation of balanced ecosystems is fundamental to achieving several UN ‐ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those dealing with eradication of poverty, food security, availability of clean water, mitigation of climate change, and biodiversity conservation (Ahirwal & Maiti 2021; Lal et al 2021).…”