creating environmental improvements through biodiversity

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Sustainable Aggregates Creating Environmental Improvements through Biodiversity economies and communities across the globe. Based at the Eden Project in St Austell, Cornwall, the PMA collates case studies and innovative solutions from mineral sites all over the world. Their case studies have been reviewed in order to set England in a global context. Local initiatives A number of local initiatives, on a range of spatial scales, exist across England with the common aim of encouraging a joined up approach to the restoration of mineral sites within a particular area. Considerable expertise often exists within these local initiatives, and the interactions and discussions they promote can often lead to innovative solutions to potential obstacles. Their approach can, in itself, instruct general understanding of best-practice, and has therefore been incorporated into this review. Amongst these initiatives are: The OnTrent Initiative, The Swale and Ure Washlands Project, The Cotswold Water Park Society and The Lower Windrush Valley Project. Statutory bodies The Environment Agency and Natural England are statutory consultees for the minerals planning process and have expertise relevant to this sub-theme. Both have online literature databases, which have been searched using keywords relevant to this sub-theme. Relevant reports have been reviewed and their findings incorporated into the body of this report. English Nature (now Natural England), formed a partnership with the Quarry Products Association (QPA) and Silica and Moulding Sands Association (SAMSA) in 1998, called the Minerals and Nature Conservation Forum. The Forum has commissioned several research reports relevant to this sub-theme, and also produced an introduction to minerals and nature conservation (EN, QPA and SAMSA, 1999). These have been reviewed and their findings incorporated into the body of this report. Academic institutions Universities and related institutions are a key source of research, and work relevant to this sub-theme. Published literature was searched using the online ‘Web of Science’ database using keywords relevant to this sub-theme. Six relevant papers were found, and their findings have been incorporated into the body of this report. The small numbers of papers found in the academic literature illustrates just how important ALSF has been in driving research in this important area. The Minerals Industry Individual companies record information on protected species and habitats as part of their regular monitoring and reporting at a site level. Many now have a structured approach to monitoring, protecting and enhancing biodiversity on their sites. On-site trials of vegetation establishment or other restoration techniques carried out by mineral companies or their consultants are a potential pool of invaluable information that is currently underused. It has not been possible to investigate such trial results within this review, but this is the focus of ongoing work for the RSPB and Natural England through the Nature After Minerals programme. The Quarry Products Association (QPA) now includes biodiversity in its ‘Sustainable Development Report’ (2007). This includes indicators to monitor progress of QPA members in improving biodiversity through their work. These indicators are at a very early stage, and some are more useful than others, but they could present a useful source of information for future reviews. 12
3 BIODIVERSITY & MINERAL SITES 3.1 PLANNING FOR THE LOCATION OF SITES AT BOTH STRATEGIC AND SITE-SPECIFIC LEVELS Minimise damage Mineral sites can have substantial benefits for biodiversity. However, setting these potential gains against the vast historical loss of semi-natural habitats shows that there is no room for complacency when locating new sites: damage to existing biodiversity should always be avoided. Many of the reports reviewed recommend that the location of future extraction sites should be chosen so that damage to biodiversity and other environmental assets are minimised (e.g. Worcestershire County Council, Ryland et al., 2005). Damage to specific features such as wildlife habitat corridors should be avoided (Stonex & Beeden 2005). It is also important that less immediately obvious wildlife, such as invertebrates, plants and fungi, are considered at an early stage in the planning process and negative impact avoided (Roberts and Buffin 2005). Roberts and Buffin (2005) state that restoration practices promoted by the planning process are not currently benefiting and are often proving detrimental to invertebrate biodiversity. Sustainable Aggregates Creating Environmental Improvements through Biodiversity James et al. (2004) highlights the predictive Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) techniques that could be used at the level of Minerals Local Plans (or Minerals Development Frameworks) to limit negative impacts on biodiversity. Strategic Environmental Assessments should address potential damage to internationally and nationally designated sites, and effects on regional Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) targets for habitats and species. The report contains useful background and information such as a description of Environmental Constraints Mapping, where nature conservation designations, landscape designations and ‘BAP areas’ are mapped against minerals resources. This is used to test whether sites in a development plan are allocated in the least sensitive locations possible. The British Geological Society (BGS) have produced an online tool that allows users to carry out this type of constraints mapping (Steadman et al., 2005). Initially covering only the East Midlands region, this was to be expanded to most of England, and could be a valuable tool for planners and industry producing Strategic Environmental Assessments and / or Environmental Appraisal of strategic plans. Maximise benefits for wildlife Sites should be located such that opportunities to enhance biodiversity are maximised. This may include ensuring habitat end-uses are agreed when extraction takes place close to existing habitat, in order to buffer and link remaining patches (Davies, 2006); or planning for larger sites or multiple sites together, in order to encourage a landscape-scale approach to restoration. However, while bigger sites may be better for producing valuable restorations, public opinion and multiple ownership may cause problems in approving large extraction sites (Hafren Water, 2007). When considering landscape scale projects, it is essential to consider the local area’s character and landscape designations (Allen, 2004, Worcestershire County Council). It would be valuable for the heritage sector to provide historic data on the area, where this exists, and engage 13
Page 1 and 2: THEME 3 - CREATING ENVIRONMENTAL IM
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Executive summary 5 1. Int
Page 5 and 6: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report revie
Page 7 and 8: 1 INTRODUCTION This sub-theme provi
Page 9 and 10: 2 APPROACH TO REVIEW & SOURCES OF I
Page 11: SAMP 3B.8 TAL0040 Thompson, A.; How
Page 15 and 16: and restored areas, can all be mana
Page 17 and 18: Sustainable Aggregates Creating Env
Page 19 and 20: ut should not necessarily be applie
Page 21 and 22: zones would appear inappropriate. R
Page 23 and 24: Commercial approaches can provide f
Page 25 and 26: 3.5 WORKING TOGETHER The importance
Page 27 and 28: It is preferable to integrate confl
Page 29 and 30: 3.6 BIODIVERSITY AND MINERAL SITES
Page 31 and 32: 4 GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE / DIRECTIONS FO
Page 33 and 34: 5 DISSEMINATION & IMPACT OF ALSF RE
Page 35 and 36: 6 CONCLUSIONS A number of common th
Page 37 and 38: Many site BAPs would benefit from i
Page 39 and 40: working and long-term management ar
Page 41 and 42: REFERENCES River Nene From its Sour
Page 43 and 44: publication copy (MIRO, NECESI, The
Page 45 and 46: Websites Holcim website Kahumbu and
Page 47 and 48: ANNEX 1 Summaries of ALSF-funded pa
Page 49 and 50: SYNTHETIC SURVEY OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Page 51 and 52: • Archaeology in the area has pro
Page 53 and 54: authorities, NGOs, local organisati
Page 55 and 56: Recommendation that a systematic me
Page 57 and 58: Recommendation to adopt a flexible
Page 59 and 60: Output: The advocacy report present
Page 61 and 62: Output: Provides a review consideri
Page 63 and 64:
DEVELOPING POLICY AND BEST PRACTICE
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WATER-BASED QUARRY RESTORATION - OP
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SAFEGUARDING MINERAL EXTRACTION SIT
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candidates for restoration for biod
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Output: Description of SEA, and dif
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information and starting to underta
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organisations and funding bodies on
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Potential Expansion: Co-operation w
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estoration of aggregate sites. Stee
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free of charge to key stakeholders.
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EXTRACTING THE BEST FOR WILDLIFE -
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• That a simple methodology for m
Page 87 and 88:
sites. Downloads have been recorded
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extended to work more with quarry o
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The review could be used to inform
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eminder to consider more local envi
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ANNEX 2 TROUT UNLIMITED’S ABANDON
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in 450 chapters. Partnership is int
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The training programmes cover the f
Page 101 and 102:
The Place: Clear Creek begins high
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addition, the U.S Department of the
Page 105 and 106:
surface limestone deposits are over
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and medicinal plots were planted fr
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Long-Term Viability The company pos
Page 111 and 112:
In addition to providing economic b
Page 113 and 114:
Cementia later went into partnershi
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The opening of restored quarries fo
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intensification of the aquaculture
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119 Sustainable Aggregates Creating
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