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Rehabilitation of mine spoil to regionally endangered semi-evergreen vine thicket

Rehabilitation of mine spoil to regionally endangered semi-evergreen vine thicket

Specifications

  • Scope:

    Development of a system and methodology to revegetation of threatened Semi-Evergreen Vine Thicket (SEVT) communities on re-contoured coal mine spoil.  Establishment of SEVT trials and monitoring.

  • Challenge:

    SEVT is an endagered vegetation community affected by both mining and agriculture in central Queensland. Prior attempts to establish on mine spoil have been unsuccessful. The ability to include SEVT in the palette of mine rehabilitation options will contribute to conservation of this vegetation community, improve vegetation connectivity and regional biodiversity, and meet stated community expectations.

  • Solution:

    Verterra undertook a survey program to understand the ecology of SEVT, and developed a package of spoil contouring and silvicultural practices to provide reliable and repeatable establishment success of a framework community that will foster further natural recruitment over time. Changes to spoil contouring that assist SEVT save rehabilitation costs that effectively funds SEVT establishment costs.

  • Benefit to Client:

    The project has delivered the client a new option for mine rehabilitation, allowing them to meet broader environmental objectives of restoring a regionally threatened vegetation community.

  • Market Sector: Mining
  • Capabilities:
    • Mine site, tailings dam and degraded land rehabilitation
    • Vegetation and biodiversity offsets
    • Research Services
  • Location: Queensland
  • Year: 2010 - 2011 - 2012