structural development

Hello!

Today we are devoting ourselves to the current status of a science that is particularly important for our region: the renaturation of post-mining landscapes.

The G20 Global Land Initiative ( GLI ) and the United Nations University ( UNU-FLORES ) recently co-hosted a four-day workshop in, among other places, Weißwasser, which provided a comprehensive overview of post-mining landscape restoration. We spoke to social scientist Franziska Stölzel , who researches the social consequences in affected regions, about the findings of the workshop, which was attended by over 40 international researchers.

Hello Franziska! What significant landscape restoration challenges and opportunities were discussed during the Post-Mining Landscape Restoration workshop and how can these be addressed at an international level?

Franziska Stölzel: The focus of our workshop was research on the resource nexus - the research field of our institute at the United Nations University - Institute for Integrated Material Flow and Resource Management (UNU-FLORES). Therefore, the focus was on the interaction of the individual resources and the associated needs, but also opportunities for opencast mining areas worldwide. Various techniques for analyzing soil and rock, which form the basis of recultivation, were presented. Building on this, researchers from various universities, colleges and institutes gave lectures on restoring areas and making them usable for various purposes, such as tourism or agricultural land.

 

Social scientist Franziska Stölzel

 

...that sounds very theoretical...

Franziska Stölzel: There were also practical application examples such as data collection using drones, vertical farming options on former mining areas, safe food supplies and soil - as well as water management after mining.

The large field of renaturation is still far from being fully researched. Technology continues to make great progress and ecological requirements are growing. What innovative restoration techniques and approaches were presented by the experts during the workshop, particularly in relation to the integration of ecological, technological and social aspects?  

Franziska Stölzel: An important feature of a renatured ecosystem is the comprehensive restoration of biodiversity. Using practical examples, speakers explained which plants are best suited to certain soils, how to flood an open-cast mining pit - what needs to be taken into account, but also how dangerous this work can be. Simulations can be used in research laboratories in Dresden and the partner universities to examine exactly what dangers landslides pose and how they can be prevented. The participants were particularly interested in the practical examples that we were able to show through excursions in Lusatia, for example at Bärwalder See or the Nochten foundlings park , as well as at the tower on Schweren Berg in Weißwasser. Thematic content such as:

• Geomonitoring projects at TH Bochum
• Examples of the use of remote sensing, drones and GIS tools (BGR)
• Examples of remediation measures: Slag heaps and opencast mines in Lichtenberg: Relocation of nearby rock dumps to the opencast mine in accordance with the acid formation potential of Wismut GmbH
• Case study comparisons from Germany and other countries such as South Africa, e.g. the full cost calculations of water resources
• Biodiversity management (IHI Zittau/TUD)
• Vegetation science or biotechnology (HTWK)

 

Bad Muskau, Weißwasser and Lausitz are now well-known to international researchers and they provide exemplary legislation regarding open-cast mining and dismantling

 

How can the newly acquired knowledge and experience from the workshop be implemented in practical applications on site, especially in relation to the revitalization of formerly degraded mining areas?

Franziska Stölzel: For most actors from the Global South, what is unique about Germany is that there legal regulations . These stipulate that when planning opencast mines, it must be regulated how these places can be restored to nature after use and that sufficient resources (especially money) are available. The participants were scientists from universities and their research institutions, others came from non-governmental organizations, small and medium-sized companies and ministries. Therefore, the starting point for most participants was very different. Nevertheless, everyone can take their new findings with them to the committees in which decisions are made about guidelines and projects. The lectures serve as templates for the participants and can be used further. In addition, networking at respective events is extremely important, as it promotes exchange and support.

Is there a central question that concerns everyone equally?

Franziska Stölzel: Most people were interested in the question of resources, which has never really been clarified. This is particularly difficult because additional material must be dumped after material has been removed. This is too expensive for most companies. It was therefore important to discuss an initial insight into possible legal requirements and incentive systems for implementing these. It was also about monitoring sustainable processes that incorporate not only ecological but also social components. In the Global South, people in mining areas are being displaced and returning to areas after complete destruction. The participants were not only from different countries, but were also interdisciplinary and selected according to different fields of work.

What role do international collaborations and interdisciplinary collaboration play in addressing global environmental problems, particularly in the context of post-mining landscape restoration? And: what impact does this have on our post-mining landscape here in Lusatia?

Franziska Stölzel: For us as an organizing institution, it was above all important to highlight the participants and their problems in their regions and to collect possible ideas for these places that come from the experts who have been working on the topics for decades. Of course, the focus is on considering how best practice examples can be transferred and what resources are needed or how these must be adapted to the regions to be restored. In addition, an exchange at a research level is always essential, as the development of ecosystems is not only deteriorated by environmental problems and climate changes, but in the Global South mainly affects people who already suffer from enormous restrictions. Interdisciplinary teams can develop innovative solutions that take into account the complex aspects of environmental restoration on an economic, social and ecological level.

Germany plays an important role in this...

Franziska Stölzel: Since Germany serves as a role model in the planning of mining areas , it can be an incubator for framework conditions that can be adopted at the political and legal level of the respective country. In this context, the question arose about cooperatives that could improve access to financial resources and thus further support the exchange. An important topic area was also to train the workers necessary for the process, to train experts and practitioners at special schools and to orientate ourselves on the curricula of other countries in this regard. Of course, an evaluation also applies in order to guarantee effective planning and implementation and to further develop it.

What key insights and perspectives did you take away from the workshop, and how could these help shape future research and action strategies in the area of ​​restoring degraded landscapes?

I see that we in Germany are a lot ahead of other countries. We can all be sure that the mining areas used in Lusatia will be restored areas that, depending on the idea, will also acquire additional economic mechanisms, tourism and culture. As a social scientist, for me personally the biggest question of reuse is the participation of municipalities and communities, which does not appear in the current legal provisions. We can only see the effects of socially acceptable recultivation of areas by looking at a few smaller experiments, such as those in the Czech Republic. At the request of the citizens, a dump there was converted into a viewing point .

Thank you for the interesting conversation - we look forward to continuing it!

Here you can find further, comprehensive information about the successful renaturation in Lusatia.

 

Photos: Franziska Stölzel, Tine Jurtz / Cover photo: The group visits the Nochten foundlings park

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