February 6, 2012

Rehabilitating a mine site for the environment

ABC Radio National's Bush Telegraph ran an interesting story this morning about the difficulties of rehabilitating mine sites.
A study of the rehabilitation of bauxite mine sites near Weipa on Cape York shows 'habitat conversion' rather than 'habitat restoration'.
According to a paper by Susan Gould at the Fenner School of Environment and Society at the ANU, fast growing acacias now dominate an area which was once a eucalypt forest reducing the amount of birds returning to the area.
Mining companies are required to pay a bond prior to mining to ensure companies do not walk away from their environmental responsibilities.


http://www.abc.net.au/rural/telegraph/content/2012/s3423994.htm

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