creating environmental improvements through biodiversity

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Sustainable Aggregates Creating Environmental Improvements through Biodiversity and recommends that existing links between geological and biological site management should be strengthened. • Hafren Water (2007) discusses the potential for natural water treatment systems to be incorporated into end-uses, including reedbeds, using Slimbridge wildfowl collection as an example. It discusses ecological fish culture and ecological aquaculture as potential complementary uses to encouraging biodiversity. Further research in this area would be required. Figure 4: Public access at a restored minerals site Delivering landscape-scale benefits together Good relations with minerals operators and local communities can achieve ecological objectives ‘without the need for additional planning instruments or conditions’, according to Parker et al. (2004). In this project advice was given to quarry operators and adjoining landowners on how best to manage habitats on restored and non-operational land. Advice on potential sources of funding was also given, including the existing agri-environment schemes. Linking mineral sites with the surrounding landscape in this way is a first step in establishing landscape-scale benefits, and improving large areas (including on sites where biodiversity is not necessarily the main driver, e.g. farms). Approaches like this within local initiative areas could have big impacts (e.g. OnTrent). Stonex & Beeden (2005) provided land management advice to multiple landowners (farmers), linked to the conservation of charismatic species (dormice and bats) in the Mendip Hills. ‘Clusters’ of farms were entered into ELS to provide landscape scale bat and dormouse habitat. This provides an example of an approach to dealing with landscape scale conservation by focusing on target species, involving numerous stakeholders across a specified area which contains mineral sites. 26
It is preferable to integrate conflicting end-use demands at a landscape-scale where possible – this is most likely to occur where joined-up thinking on land use is being promoted by local initiatives. At a smaller scale, positive integration of different end-uses may be possible through early consideration and discussion at the planning stage. Examples of different end-uses that can be successfully integrated on one site include geodiversity and habitat creation, or habitat creation and public access. A number of local initiatives currently work at a landscape scale, encouraging communication and coordination between numerous operators and landowners. These include: The OnTrent Initiative, The Swale and Ure Washlands Project, The Cotswold Water Park Society and The Lower Windrush Valley Project. Integrated water management among neighbouring quarries is recommended by Hobden et al. (2005). This has effects on long term management of wider areas. Quarry operators in the region studied held long-term monitoring data that may be useful in managing local water courses. Quarry water management may become more important in regulating stream flows as effects of climate change (e.g. flooding and drought) become more pronounced. Working together nationally Several blocks acting at a national scale to prevent habitat creation on mineral sites were identified by Davies (2006). Where possible and appropriate, these should be tackled at a national scale to ease local decision making. Sustainable Aggregates Creating Environmental Improvements through Biodiversity Clayton et al (2004) suggests a co-ordinated strategy across the industry to help achieve the best balance in addressing BAP targets. The report also recommends that a systematic methodology be developed to monitor biodiversity on quarrying sites (at all stages), and possibly that a national data collection scheme be implemented. Hobden et al. (2005) recommends the involvement of minerals operators, the Environment Agency and EN (NE) in contributing to pooling of environmental data. Many of the larger minerals companies in England have strategies for working to protect and maintain biodiversity on their sites (including Tarmac, Aggregate Industries and Lafarge). Roberts and Buffin (2005) recommends that existing projects on minerals and nature conservation need to be integrated, to prevent needless duplication of time, effort and resources. Any attempts to bring these initiatives together would clearly be welcomed by the industry. Ryland (2004) recommends that operators who are already advancing conservation interests be given full credit and support. It also recommends that effective partnerships are built between the minerals industry and conservation bodies at a county level (as well as nationally). It supports closer working practices between nature conservation bodies, mineral operators and the planning authorities. The new Nature After Minerals programme brings together a leading Non Governmental Organisation (RSPB) and key statutory body (Natural England), to facilitate delivery of high quality habitat on mineral sites. Expertise from other key organisations will also be integrated into the programme, making it a key programme working at a national scale. Discussion of technical issues with industry at a national level may yield solutions or serve to direct future research. Issues for discussion may include sterilisation of minerals in some cases to provide restoration material, leading to greater land requirement elsewhere - Hafren Water (2007) discusses techniques to 27
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 and 12: SAMP 3B.8 TAL0040 Thompson, A.; How
Page 13 and 14: 3 BIODIVERSITY & MINERAL SITES 3.1
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: 3.5 WORKING TOGETHER The importance
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
Page 65 and 66: WATER-BASED QUARRY RESTORATION - OP
Page 67 and 68: SAFEGUARDING MINERAL EXTRACTION SIT
Page 69 and 70: candidates for restoration for biod
Page 71 and 72: Output: Description of SEA, and dif
Page 73 and 74: information and starting to underta
Page 75 and 76: organisations and funding bodies on
Page 77 and 78:
Potential Expansion: Co-operation w
Page 79 and 80:
estoration of aggregate sites. Stee
Page 81 and 82:
free of charge to key stakeholders.
Page 83 and 84:
EXTRACTING THE BEST FOR WILDLIFE -
Page 85 and 86:
• That a simple methodology for m
Page 87 and 88:
sites. Downloads have been recorded
Page 89 and 90:
extended to work more with quarry o
Page 91 and 92:
The review could be used to inform
Page 93 and 94:
eminder to consider more local envi
Page 95 and 96:
ANNEX 2 TROUT UNLIMITED’S ABANDON
Page 97 and 98:
in 450 chapters. Partnership is int
Page 99 and 100:
The training programmes cover the f
Page 101 and 102:
The Place: Clear Creek begins high
Page 103 and 104:
addition, the U.S Department of the
Page 105 and 106:
surface limestone deposits are over
Page 107 and 108:
and medicinal plots were planted fr
Page 109 and 110:
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
Page 115 and 116:
The opening of restored quarries fo
Page 117 and 118:
intensification of the aquaculture
Page 119:
119 Sustainable Aggregates Creating
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