UNDERSTANDING AND DELIVERY OF THE COMPONENTS OF STRUCTURE, DIVERSITY, AND FUNCTION IN THE RESTORATION OF ECOSYSTEMS ON MINED LAND: WORKING TOWARDS A PRACTICAL METHODOLOGY 1

Abstract

With the full implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by 2020, surface mining and other industries in the UK will have to embrace the concept of ecosystems and ecosystem services, and be ready to deliver satisfactory schemes with all the necessary elements where important natural vegetation and habitats are involved. It is debatable whether there is sufficient understanding of the ecosystems being considered and clarity in what needs to be achieved leaving practitioners and regulators with little guidance when faced with designing or evaluating a mining proposal or the evaluation of the success of restoration schemes. This paper introduces and examines a measurable and workable methodology based on the Tansley concept of vegetation communities (being the basic unit of ecosystems) and the application of the national monitoring standards (CSM) for the key requisite ecosystem structural elements. These are encompassed in the proposed Canopy-Age-Regeneration-Genetic-Indicator-Exotic design and assessment model. It is argued that the Joint Nature Conservancy Council (JNCC) derived CARGIE Model is applicable to the restoration of ecosystems in the UK. It could enable better design and evaluation of the restoration of ecosystems and their services, and the mining industry to meet the challenges posed by CBD and the new and emerging legislation and policies.