Function and performance targets in ecological rehabilitation

Authors: Loch, RJ

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1608_40_Loch

Cite As:
Loch, RJ 2016, 'Function and performance targets in ecological rehabilitation ', in AB Fourie & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2016: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 545-554, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1608_40_Loch

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Abstract:
This paper considers, from the view of a rehabilitation practitioner, approaches to establishing a sustainable ecosystem that may reasonably approximate some target vegetation assemblage. Broadly, the target system needs to be defined not only in terms of species assemblages, but also in terms of key soil attributes; some of which may be relatively constant and able to be established when revegetation works are carried out. However, other soil attributes may rely on plant growth for their development and modification, and the role of vegetation in providing essential services to the developing ecosystem is fundamental to long term ecosystem sustainability. This paper demonstrates how runoff/erosion and water balance models could be used to provide quantitative short- and longer-term targets for the management and assessment of rehabilitation progress and success.

Keywords: sustainability landscape function rehabilitation

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