Eco-engineered soil–plant systems of nature-based design for rehabilitation of native woodlands on mined landscapes

Authors: Huang, L; Erskine, P; You, F; Wang, Y; Berghofer, P; Mazucco, T Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_63

Cite As:
Huang, L, Erskine, P, You, F, Wang, Y, Berghofer, P & Mazucco, T 2026, 'Eco-engineered soil–plant systems of nature-based design for rehabilitation of native woodlands on mined landscapes', in AB Fourie, G Boggs, J Heyes & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2026: Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 1-17, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_63



Abstract:
Establishing self-sustaining native Eucalyptus woodlands remains a major challenge for mine closure in semi-arid regions such as Central Queensland, Australia. Long-term rehabilitation success depends on creating soil systems and landforms that are structurally diverse and functionally resilient, supporting ecological succession and heterogeneous vegetation patterns under highly variable rainfall. However, current rehabilitation practice is largely based on linear reclamation models, agricultural soil concepts and engineering approaches that emphasise uniformity and operational efficiency, often at the expense of ecological function. This paper presents an ecologically driven, top-down framework for rehabilitating novel native woodland ecosystems. The framework seeks to recreate key structural and functional attributes of natural systems, enabling self-directed development towards resilient, quasi-equilibrated ecosystems. Ecological succession is explicitly incorporated, including shifts in soil microbial communities and transitions in vegetation from early pioneer understorey species to mature woodland assemblages with canopy, mid-storey and understorey layers. Central to the framework is the design of self-developing soils and landforms that support staged transitions from mixed exotic–native vegetation to multilayered native woodlands across heterogeneous landscapes. This requires ecological engineering approaches that align site construction with natural ecosystem processes. Chronic topsoil shortages at mine sites further highlight the need for ecological engineering. Mine wastes and spoils can be transformed into functional earth materials, including stable sublayers and engineered soil systems. By integrating pedological principles into engineering design, these materials can form Technosols capable of evolving into self-sustaining soil–landscape systems. Combined with rock materials, they can be used to construct landforms that mimic natural colluvial landscapes, incorporating spatial variability and preferential flow pathways that enhance woodland persistence under water-limited conditions. Evaluating novel ecosystem performance requires moving beyond simple erosion models and direct comparisons with mature reference ecosystems. Instead, assessment should focus on catchment-scale ecosystem processes, including hydrological, biogeochemical and soil–plant interactions, that indicate self-driven development and progressive improvement in ecosystem function over time

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