Understanding and Delivery of the Components of Structure, Diversity, and Function in the Restoration of Ecosystems on Mined Land: Working Towards a Practical Methodology

Abstract:The rehabilitation of forest and other woody vegetation ecosystems on mineral extraction sites is common place and a major post-mining land use throughout Australia. Owing to the need for government certification (under Australian and State legislation specified completion criteria which are indicative of rehabilitation goals are or have been achieved) there is often referral to and comparison with reference native vegetation sites. Examples of the ways in which reference sites have been selected and their limitations are considered in relation to some published examples for the rehabilitation of mineral sand, coal and bauxite surface mines in Queensland and Western Australia. Reference sites have been used for mainly setting mine closure land uses and vegetation types and the evaluation of the success of schemes. The identification and selection of reference sites requires rigour and justification according to the purpose and context of the comparisons being made. Importantly, the selection and sampling protocols need to be clearly set out and justified rather than, for example, simply stating number and sizes of plots used. This is particularly importance with respect to the bias introduced as the methodology used determines both the outcome and interpretation of the comparison being made. Greater consideration of the above might result in reference sites being more 'fit for purpose' than apparently might be the case. Another issue relating to the identification and selection of reference sites and their attributes as metrics for evaluation purposes is the matter of their state and condition. The use of mature reference stands rather than similar states to the immature rehabilitated stands needs to be factored in when selecting sites and interpreting the outcomes. In this context the recently suggested CARGIE model might be applied and developed further.

Section: Hnatiuk Et Al (2009) Set Out a Formalised Format For Monitomentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Hnatiuk Et Al (2009) Set Out a Formalised Format For Monitomentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hnatiuk Et Al (2009) Set Out a Formalised Format For Monitomentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Use of Reference Sites in the Evaluation of Some Rehabilitated Native Forests on Surface Mines in Australia

Humphries¹

2015

“…This requires the exhibition of not only growth and maturation, but death and decay along with recruitment and replacement of the component species as evidence of the cyclic and dynamic nature of forest ecosystems (Humphries, 2013a;Král et al, 2014). Given this fundamental characteristic of sustainable ecosystems and the time-sequences involving many decades, it is of no surprise that this evidence is unlikely to be currently available for compliance and decision-making purposes.…”

Section: Attainment Of Target Forest Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Composition Model (Koch, 2007b;Norman et al, 2006), rather than any other successional or ecosystem models (Humphries, 2013a).…”

Section: Attainment Of Target Forest Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Case Study: Some Lessons From the Early Development of Native Forest Rehabilitation at Three Surface Mine Complexes in Australia

Humphries¹

2016

Abstract:The rehabilitation of forest and other woody vegetation ecosystems on mineral extraction sites is common place and a major post-mining land use throughout Australia. Owing to the need for government certification (under Australian Government and State legislation) for mine closure, monitoring of the establishing forests or other woody ecosystems is typically undertaken using agreed completion criteria which are predictive of rehabilitation future achievement. The collation and review of the monitoring results for the early development of the rehabilitated forests at three surface mines provide an opportunity to identify key processes and practices that might be used to enhance the achievements in Australia and elsewhere. The monitoring results for two rehabilitation schemes in subtropical Queensland (mineral sand and coal) and one in Western Australia (bauxite) were examined. Whilst it is evident that woody vegetation comprising several native tree and shrub species can be readily established, the resulting vegetation communities in the early development of the forest vegetation can be notably different in their composition and structure to the target and/or locally occurring native types. It is concluded that forest structural formation in combination with species composition, are of importance in establishing the predicted trajectory of the developing forest type, ecosystem, functioning, and sustainability. Species composition is likely to influence initial forest structure and the need for intervention practices, such as thinning, that may be required to achieve the necessary structural formation and ultimately the targeted native forest types. The principles established are likely to universally apply irrespective of the mineral and climatic types examined.

Case Study: Early Outcomes and Lessons Learnt From a Recently Translocated Woodland Ecosystem

Humphries¹,

Delmer²,

Hopkins³

2019

The translocation of wildlife habitats remains controversial in the UK and as a last resort where prime ecosystems are involved. None is more contentious as those for woodland designated as 'ancient semi-natural woodland' (i.e., have been in situ for some 400 years or more). There are very few accessible and informative first-hand reports of woodland translocation schemes from which to learn. In this paper we discuss the outcomes of the monitoring of vascular plants and invertebrates one year after translocation of part of an ancient semi-natural woodland, following the granting of planning consent to extend a nationally important aggregate resource. The monitoring in the first year following translocation has been of particular importance as it identified that the representative species, which are needed to re-establish and develop into similar woodland communities to those of the donor, are present. It demonstrates that the physical translocation of the 'whole woodland' vascular plant assemblage is more feasible than previously canvassed, and something that is equivalent to familiar woodland practices of clear-felling operations or coppice rotations. It also determined the need and focus for the proactive control of invasive species that will be needed to achieve the longer-term objective in the vicinity of both the donor woodland and the receptor site, prior to, during and after translocation. The findings are timely and of relevance, beyond the mineral extraction industry, to infrastructure and other built developments involving important woodland ecosystems.