creating environmental improvements through biodiversity

Sustainable Aggregates Creating Environmental Improvements through Biodiversity
Discusses the potential for natural water treatment systems to be incorporated into end-uses, including
reedbeds – Slimbridge wildfowl collection as an example
Discusses constructed wetlands in the context of water treatment and habitat creation
Discusses ecological fish culture and ecological aquaculture as complementary uses to encouraging
biodiversity
Presents examples of ‘eco-parks’ where natural water treatment, water supply, habitat development and
recreation facilities are combined
Provides guidance on site-specific constraints, strategic issues and decision making on various issues, including
‘ecology’
Discusses income and costs associated with habitat creation
Mentions sterilisation of minerals in some cases to provide restoration material, leading to greater land
requirement elsewhere - discusses techniques to minimise this
Gives worked examples and advice on hypothetical restorations
Points out that bigger sites are generally better for producing valuable restorations (but that public opinion
and multiple ownership may cause problems in approving large extraction sites)
Recommends further work on floating islands and eco-developments, and supports an innovative approach
to restoration
Lists references and useful websites
Impacts (Actual):
The report describes a broad spectrum of issues for consideration in designing water-based quarry
restorations, and may help to encourage experts in different fields to work together. It points to a number of
sources for further guidance on specific habitats, which would be useful to various readers. It also describes
some innovative approaches to restoration, which may be more or less effective but provide an interesting
basis for further discussion.
Impacts (Potential):
The report could help to raise awareness of biodiversity issues among experts from other fields - particularly
hydrology (and vice versa), especially if dissemination was specifically targeted to those audiences.
Potential Expansion:
Further study could be carried out on some of the approaches the report describes. A proposal has been
submitted to the MIRO MIST programme to do this. It will focus on the viability of floating wetlands for the
restoration of wet mineral workings, and opportunities for sustainable rural regeneration through waterbased
quarry restoration.
Dissemination:
‘Priority was given to the dissemination of information through a specifically constructed website (www.
quarry-restoration.com) and presentations to the Steering Group Committee’.
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