Title: Nature After Minerals: how mineral site restoration can benefit people and wildlife 
Resource Type: document --> technical publication --> report 
Country: United Kingdom 
Year: 2006 
Author 1/Producer: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) 
Other Authors/Producers: A M Davies 
Author / Producer Type: Non-governmental organisations 
Publisher: RSPB 
Publisher City: Sandy, Beds, UK 
Report / download web link (=direct link): http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/natureaftermineralsreport2_tcm ...  
Format (e.g. PDF): PDF 
Size: (e.g. 20mb) 5 
EUGRIS Keyword(s): Brownfields
Contaminated land-->Remediation options-->Remediation options overview
Contaminated land-->Wider impacts / sustainability-->Sustainable / green remediation
 
Short description: Extract: The RSPB has a long history of creating semi-natural habitats, often on postindustrial land. Some of our most beautiful nature reserves are former mineral extraction sites. Places like Dungeness and Fairburn Ings benefit not only wildlife, but also local communities, providing attractive greenspace where they can meet friends and family, take a gentle stroll, and be surrounded by nature. Using local greenspace in this way, means people improve both their physical and mental wellbeing. New nature reserves also provide jobs and attract visitors, thereby supporting and generating economic activity within local communities. Creating priority wildlife habitats allows us to redress historical habitat loss. It is exciting to be able to put something back – to help turn the tide of habitat destruction. By increasing the area of priority habitats we can help ensure the plants and animals that depend on them can expand in range and population. In an increasingly uncertain world, where wildlife is under pressure from challenges such as climate change and changing land-uses, creating habitat can make species more resilient, increasing the chances of future generations enjoying a country rich in biodiversity. Targets for habitat creation are included in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, the UK Government’s commitment to biodiversity. Mineral sites offer a fantastic opportunity to contribute to these habitat creation targets. Some wonderful examples already exist, as shown by the case studies throughout this report. However, the scale of the opportunity unearthed by this study certainly surprised me – the potential for habitat creation is far in excess of what was previously understood. With the possibility that habitat creation on mineral sites could exceed government targets for many priority habitats, it is clear that such sites could provide a lifeline for our wildlife. This report sets out a vision of large-scale habitats being created on mineral sites for people and for wildlife. Here is an opportunity for a major industry and the planning system to work together with nature conservation organisations to provide vast public good by making this vision a reality. 
Submitted By: Professor Paul Bardos WhoDoesWhat?      Last update: 23/03/2007

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