International principles and standards for the ecological restoration and recovery of mine sites

Mining has been, and remains, an integral part of human existence from Stone Age quarries through to the iron coal that fueled industrial revolution, new materials needed support shift renewable energy. mining products are major contributors national economies with value tripling in past two decades. As 2020, global footprint was 57,000 km2 growing at a faster rate now than any other time history. Much this is operational, but many areas where complete, sites represent environmental liabilities. Although site stabilization managing waste remains challenging mine closure parts world, liability these means more being just safe, stable, nonpolluting, companies increasingly expected restore ecosystems representative their pre-mined (natural) state. The International Principles Standards for Ecological Restoration Recovery Mine Sites (Mine Site Standards, MSRS) present first international framework delivery socially environmentally responsible ecological restoration after mining, regardless whether legally mandated. MSRS designed inspire drive higher better outcomes post-mining landscapes by both guiding encouraging highest level achievable supports need protecting restoring nature. This comes unparalleled impacts climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss threaten very fabric planet. player local regional demonstrating leadership protecting, enhancing, environments which they operate, can maintain, enhance social license operate. aim provide industry, governments, stakeholders, including Indigenous peoples communities, address mining-specific issues delivering effective sites. emphasize achieving possible depends upon ingenuity, knowledge investment, supportive corporate ethos build culture continuous improvement. approach will maximize benefits environment, ultimately industry. For be utilized optimize leave positive legacy long ceased. Early adoption industry reduce environmental, financial, risk relinquishment commitment increasing natural capital, responding change and, recovering biodiversity, threatened culturally significant species. agreed-upon use (PMLU), some cases, same general prior disturbance, often includes fully functioning intact native ecosystems. In PMLU may different pre-mining condition. Regardless, potential should not invoked as justification destroying or damaging existing When impacted full recovery informed reference models target. Where “recovery gap” between initial ecosystem created. highly man-altered landscapes, processes approaches require solutions undertaken within Standards. followed, help limit gap, (e.g., if implemented had previously been degraded activities), close gap move toward net gain. underpinned eight principles enable decisions evidence-based, resilient, acceptable companies, stakeholders. They are: defined “The process assisting degraded, damaged, destroyed” (SER 2004; Gann et al. 2019)1,2 quantity quality accelerated decades response legal regulatory obligations, community cultural expectations, cumulative watersheds, biodiversity. Importantly, aware maintain operate3 (SLO) addition requirements achieve relinquishment. Thus, there substantial advances intent, scientific knowledge, technological ability returning healthy, keeping local, regional, expectations best practice. However, lack guidance on what constitutes practice together appropriate technical capacity impediments successful restoration. large contributor economy top 40 contributing US$544.4 billion 2020 (PwC 2021). context, unprecedented opportunity excel mobilize societal, technological, financial resources implement goes beyond actively United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)4 (CCSI, SDSN, UNDP, WEF 2016; IRP 2019). An number Anglo-American, Heidelberg Cement) committed meeting challenge; however, post-mine (Lamb 2015; Maus 2020) affecting abandoned mines. Moving remediation rehabilitation reinstate recover losses well increase impacts, even area directly mining. set agendas standards field, especially over next decade, profound forefront efforts recover, conserve, improve integrity. Implementing restorative activities across continuum contexts fundamental health well-being; natural, social, capital; traditional uses; respond Decade Ecosystem 2021–2030; Environment Program [UNEP] & FAO 2020; see also section 4, 3 Direct minimized possible, consistent internationally recognized Mitigation Hierarchy (CSBI 2013), regulators firstly avoid impacts; minimize cannot avoided; when occur rehabilitate restore; offset residual negative (Fig. 1). forms key Council Metals (ICMM) Position Statements whereby company members commit: “To ensure adverse operations changes adequately addressed throughout project cycle mitigation hierarchy applied.” Because near creates usually alone plus restoration, offsets used try impacts. current application rarely, all, like-for-like gain (MSRS) therefore founded (1) reconsidering occurs prioritizing have converted5) avoiding unique high-value assets; (2) minimizing extent implementing nonpolluting landform; (3) conducting off-site mines adjacent order impacted. outline how future builds company's SLO minimizes risks. jurisdictions required manage, return, transfer custodian owner condition matches agreed (PMLU) accordance requirements.6 ecosystem, required. describe allied given conditions societal choice. relevant documents EMPs) (ICMM 2019) tandem efficiencies cohesion company, recognizing most exceed established requirements. Recognizing environment context represents one metals 2022 (Ernst Young 2021), Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) performance becoming critical reporting measure companies. Obtaining complying government approvals no longer sufficient, nor acceptable, (Box Challenges obtaining approval exacerbated reclamation, rehabilitation, mandatory delivered previous projects. Instances developments delayed, interrupted, approved due opposition increasing. such, must diligent building, fostering, maintaining currency open disclosure deliver outcome (Moffat Zhang 2014). Furthermore, sustainability ESG structures, readiness driver investors (Eccles Klimenko majority financiers adopted Equator Principles,7 signatories UNEP Responsible Banking (UNEP Finance Initiative 2019), Task Force Climate-related Financial Disclosures,8 forthcoming Taskforce Nature-related Disclosures.9 These recipients banking loans, align business strategy SDGs Paris Climate Agreement (United 2015). never unsustainable (Gann Many extractive industries operate ecosystems,10 wetlands, coastal environments, forests, tropical grasslands, subalpine ecotones, high irreplaceable conservation values. settings significantly altered geological profile (Buisson 2019; Festin To date, only achieved small percent destroyed ecosystems, operational exists 2020). based functional resilient model, proponents demonstrate adequate ecosystem-specific before commencing activity.11 If done advance, early investment establishing adaptive management structures research, management, progressive speak repair, closure, time, consolidate integrated By adopting expanding activities, extend itself, while building sustainable prosperity. Society (SER) partners published Practice (International Standards), foundational design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation projects all scales types worldwide.12 Core Restorative Continuum articulates range family integrity mined challenges encountered Hence, complimentary document essential precursor attainment landforms. typically complex engineering challenge, requiring inputs. Detailed planning life (LoM) characterization physical, chemical, biological, properties effectively manage waste, drainage water, landforms, risks associated tailings, radiological, hazardous materials. Elements landscape phase discussed, impact success topic itself comprehensively it covered (LPSDP 2016a, 2016b; Global Tailings Review Salvador focus emerging practical collective experience. include terrestrial exclude subsea apply varying pit, underground strip minerals, raw materials, coal, peat, oil, gas, Relevant concepts tools customized meet definitions, Eight Principles, Five-star System, Wheels), additional consolidated leading Corporation 2012; Liu Clewell 2017; ICMM provides background scope document. “Towards Culture Best Future Sites” considers into LoM “Eight Underpin outlines underpin “SoP Planning Projects” covers mining-related (SoP) Throughout article, case studies Appendix S1 versions manuscript. S2 series pertinent explanatory topics discussed manuscript including: SLO; frameworks; rights; economic, restoration; Offsets; repurposing; developing models; safe stable landforms; water management; implications change; monitoring evaluation. distinct ecology, science repair seeking assist aims trajectory allows adaptation changes, persistence, enabling continued evolution its functionality. that, under certain conditions, comprise broad concept UN Restoration: halting reversing resulting improved services recovered encompasses wide practices, depending choice accept activity goal relative model. Other kinds such refer those references return agricultural uses. Reference substrates semi-natural do necessarily alternative states could considered following (see Principle 3). commonly sought term achieved. programs targets identify restored, goals establish sought. Full state whereby, attributes closely resemble absence threats, physical species composition, structure, functions, external exchanges. lower levels planned resource, technical, constraints, partial goal. At minimum, program aspire biota functions (contrast terms Table Progressive involves staged disturbed during exploration, construction, resource extraction phases mine, instead large-scale works end project. ceased, compliance site. Relinquishment formal regulating authority granted (all obligations met satisfactory authorities possibly stakeholders) ownership agency third party. point, goal, demonstrated trajectory. Management actions productivity sites, renewed ongoing provision rather specified target ecosystem. Rehabilitation encouraged valued it: improves functions; standard applied present; lead future. important benchmark demonstrates self-organization, almost necessary elements present, ecosystem's continue develop minimal outside assistance, benefit practices. Once self-organization achieved, unexpected barriers factors take off-course, interventions continues recovery. Certain example, weeding watering plantings, referred aftercare. recovered, maintenance disturbance regimes) would maintenance. Specific example control invasive species, remediation, repurposing, revegetation used, interchangeably, each (Table 1; Fig. 2; 8) care taken terminology activity. PMLUs uses cessation operations, repurposing A diversity stakeholders involved determining commences; LoM, reflecting changing stakeholder holder desires. company. practice, originated evolved 25 years. diverse array disciplinary conceptual influences—including anthropology, psychology, philosophy, law, governance, ethics, communication, rights—to form complex, dynamic, contested discourse. Ernst Young's (Mitchell list opportunities sector regularly headed tangible matters, SLO. prioritization derive intangibility SLO, combined challenge unambiguously defining concept, seem disproportionate influence perceived legitimacy. Indeed, SLO's apparent suddenly becomes real faced rebuilding trust incidents blasting 46,000-year-old rock shelters Juukan Gorge (Commonwealth Australia catastrophic livelihoods tailings dam collapses (Owen Despite (or perhaps because of) relatively extensive literature, development adopt development, assessment, engagement, monitoring) piecemeal disconnected manner operation's lifecycle, engagement “front end” relationship-building monitoring. approved, become transactional interactions, confusing community's tolerance assessment approval; cooperation trust; credibility Communities hosting expect materially ways presence communities genuine, respectful, transparent, life-of-mine relationships involvement consents Host good neighbors contribute consistently genuinely dialogue issues; who work partnership capital thereby leaving complete. High Veenker Vanclay (2021) evaluated Dutch oil NAM assessed (psychological identification) using Thomson Boutilier's scale (Thomson Boutilier 2011). industrializing rural cohesion, identity, material long-term developed respectful responsive relationships. result people Schoonebeek trusted right thing responsibility actions, incidents. There universal license. Each own histories, cultures, narratives, norms conventions, specific issues, power dynamics, systems interests, time. Companies know host well, respect (ILK), “ordinary” members, participate life, promises, prerequisites lost, extremely hard regain. enduring memories, earned, given. See Parsons Coates (2022) S2a further discussion long, “company champions” diligently continuously. (regulators), community, science, then leveraged go “Trust Model” difficult attain sustain, once realized. Science ILK ensuring robust independently verified information guides businesses outcomes. It acknowledge embedded (future Box 2). interactions embrace yield greatest results, detailed progressively understanding (Principle 2 expands role science). acknowledgement aspects ILK, on-site learning, sources currently known understood inform, influence, cost-effectiveness review policy enables evidence-based practices outcomes, unknown. engaging active agencies, failure mean pathways procedures included exchange easier plan modification (adaptive management) outcome-based objectives. create 3) innovation approaches. governance globally. greater awareness impact, consequences ineffectively closed agenda (APEC 2018). adopti