Biological Reclamation and Bio-Remediation of Former Mine Sites

Dear Colleagues,

Whilst the money generated by mining disappears swiftly, its legacy of mining wastes, whether such wastes are reclaimed successfully, unsuccessfully or simply abandoned, remains indefinitely.  Where these lands are not converted to a sustainable economic or urban after use, they must be reclaimed biologically for agriculture or forestry or returned to Nature. This Special Issue is devoted to the work of research teams who are seeking to develop effective, low-cost transferable and easily replicated biological and geo-ecological strategies for the regeneration of these challenging and dynamic lands. It is devoted to those who are conducting applied research to address the problems of mined lands, which include the problems caused by soil contamination and auto-contamination caused by mine-spoil weathering (including acid rock drainage), the control of surface and groundwater contamination, soil compaction and auto-compaction, erosion, unsuitable drainage and runoff, and revegetation and an impoverished micro-ecology that leads to soil infertility. This Special Issue is open to traditional case studies of biological ‘recultivation’ and bio-remediation, but, hopefully, it will also attract contributions that inspire one to go further to establish principles, practices, strategies and techniques that can be deployed more generally. It will also be open to those engaged in the chemical, biological and GIS-based monitoring of reclaimed land and those engaged in community and land-user education. 

Prof. Dr. Martin Haigh
Guest Editor

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