Standard Criteria and Methods to Assess the Reclamation of Native Vegetation on Mined Land

2012

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Planning applications for surface coal mine sites in South Wales are progressively being scrutinised more in respect of biodiversity mitigation and enhancement schemes for sustainable mining. In the mid-to late-1990s a commitment to establishing an often undefined type of semi-natural grassland was sufficient. This progressed to the specification of the target type of grassland in the next decade. Recent applications are seeing the planning authority and the statutory advisers demanding details of how this will be achieved and the evidence that this is possible. Given that ratcheting of the demands is a recent experience, it is difficult for the mining companies to provide the evidence on demand in the absence of a knowledge base. The availability of local seed is one of those details now being demanded. It is a particularly insidious topic if the information is not available (as it is the basis of any grassland re-establishment proposal), and without a satisfactory answer the proposal will fail and might prejudice the coal project as a whole. The applicant needs to have a primary dedicated resource and a backup resource available, and the knowledge and ability to exploit these resources. The State coal company, British Coal, in the 1980-90's commissioned a number of research programs. One of these was an in depth investigation in the seed harvesting of grassland and fen meadow vegetation in South Wales. The results of this unpublished investigation of the early 1990's are now germane. The objective of this paper is to set out the lessons learnt from this previous work for both the practitioner and regulator. One of the findings was more than one harvest in any growing season will be required for the full range of species, and this might span the period from June to October in some cases. This has implications for the harvesting strategy, whether it is a one year seeding or multi-year seeding program, how the seed resource is harvested spatially, and cognisance of the year to year variation in viable seed production due to weather and insect damage. The recommendations suggested in this Case Study may be beneficial elsewhere where harvesting local seed is necessary for successful reclamation.

Section: Potential For Establishing Grassland Typesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Potential For Establishing Grassland Typesmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lessons Learnt for Harvesting Seed From Semi-Natural Grasslands in Biodiversity Mitigation and Enhancement Schemes in the South Wales Coalfield, Uk

2012

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“…For a translocation Framework and Decision Tool to be useful there needs to be evidence that the landform and soil profile criteria set out above actually differentiate between techniques in practice and produce the successful outcome required. This evidence is provided by reference to The vegetation and species in all the translocations have been monitored for success (as part of the statutory aftercare provisions for restored mineral workings) using the criteria described by Humphries and Benyon (1999). In all cases the translocated vegetation has maintained its character and species, including national rarities.…”

Section: Case History Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Importantly all the schemes (except Stony Heap which still has three years of aftercare to complete) have been 'signed-off' by the mineral planning authorities as being successful and meeting in full the conditions attached to the mining consent. At Stony Heap the progress of the vegetation translocation is expected to be equally successful using the predictive methodology of Humphries and Benyon (1999). Association (Brown and Shipley, 1982).…”

Section: Case History Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A GEOMORPHOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK & DECISION TOOL FOR HABITAT TRANSLOCATION PRACTICES IN THE UK

2010

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With the continuing increase in population and growth in per-capita wealth there is ever more land taken for development and use of natural resources. Over the past 30 years this has resulted in significant losses of biodiversity occupying land within developments or resource footprints. Habitat translocation has become a frequently advocated and used technique in the UK, USA, Australia, and elsewhere for mitigating the adverse effects of development, including mining.Three mechanised translocation techniques are frequently used in the UK and the choice can have a bearing on the level of success achieved. Guidance for which to use for a particular site is notably absent leaving the practitioner to decide on commercial or other arbitrary grounds. The objective of this paper is to formulate a Framework and Decision Tool that can be used by planning authorities, regulators, scheme designers and developers to select and evaluate techniques specifically for herbaceous (e.g., grassland, swamp) and dwarf shrub (e.g., heathland) vegetation.There is a long established scientific base on which a Geomorphological Framework and Decision Tool for translocation can be developed. There are comprehensive data sets for landform, soils and climate in published or accessible form for the UK, and guidance that integrates these in a meaningful manner for predicting the safe and efficient cultivation of soils and vegetation by agricultural machines in various landform and soil scenarios.Eight case histories are used to provide evidence that Geo-morphology (landform (gradient) and soil characteristics (profile thickness, stoniness, strength)), with adjustment for climatic (wetness/dryness) is a common factor determining the success of translocation technique, and that established criteria for agricultural machinery can be used as a Framework for a Decision Tool. The tool devised is a simple decision-tree based on a hierarchy of the differentiating criteria of gradient, soil thickness, and soil stoniness and strength.

The Emerging Requirement for Evidence-Based Restoration Schemes in the United Kingdom

2012

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The concept of evidence-based decision making is now being applied by local government and regulators in the consenting and restoration of surface coal mines in the UK. The objective of this paper is to discuss some of the implications for the minerals industry by using, as an example, a recent application to extend a mine in South Wales. Over the past 10 years there has been a fundamental change in the approach to strategic planning and control of development in the United Kingdom. Both have become evidence-based, meaning that a proposal should be based on and supported by researched facts, which are open to objective scrutiny. Government and local authorities have not only adopted this approach, but in several cases have reorganised and renamed functional departments to reinforce the stance. The demand for evidence of the certainty of delivery of restoration schemes is a recent manifestation. Whereas, even as recent as 2-3 years ago, the detailing of restoration would be left as a reserve planning matter and finalised during the mining operation. This seems to be no longer some authorities' approach (as detailed evidence is required before approval of planning consent is granted). This may include a range of ecosystem service matters such as: land-use and habitat extent, types, character and ecosystem service function; establishment and management details during the statutory aftercare period; milestones and timescales for achievement, and its monitoring with target indicators. While this might be expected of modern mining operations, planning authorities in implementing their evidence-based agenda are taking it further to question the certainty of delivery (by demanding evidence it can be done), a measure of the certainty and detailing of fall-back measures and outcomes. A measure of success, Areal Value Index, is suggested whereby an objective assessment and judgement of certainty of delivery might be made. Given that an evidence-based approach is now likely to be widely adopted, the industry should expect to be challenged and needs to prepare its evidence well in advance of the submission of future mining schemes.