Developing Achievable Completion Criteria for Fauna — Can it be Done?

Authors: Nichols, OG

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/852_72

Cite As:
Nichols, OG 2008, 'Developing Achievable Completion Criteria for Fauna — Can it be Done?', in AB Fourie, M Tibbett, I Weiersbye & P Dye (eds), Mine Closure 2008: Proceedings of the Third International Seminar on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 773-784, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/852_72

Download citation as:   ris   bibtex   endnote   text   Zotero


Abstract:
Considerable effort is being made by mining companies to develop completion criteria for native ecosystem rehabilitation, based on sound ecological principles. However to date, criteria have largely focused on vegetation communities, with comparatively little attention paid to the development of achievable completion criteria for fauna. This paper reviews relevant fauna studies in the mining industry and illustrates how these are being used to develop workable completion criteria. Studies show that mines developing completion criteria for fauna can face significant challenges. Monitoring data reveal considerable variability in the rates at which fauna recolonize mine rehabilitation. This can be due to factors specific to the group being studied, such as mobility, method of dispersal, and habitat requirements. However, it can also be due to variations in the numbers present in surrounding source populations, the presence of predators (both native and feral), and the extent to which its habitat requirements are being fulfilled in the newly rehabilitated area. Detailed fauna research programs in the Australian bauxite and mineral sand industries, together with monitoring at other mines in Australia and elsewhere, show that the processes of faunal recolonization can be understood and completion criteria developed by adopting a systematic approach to the selection of agreed rehabilitation objectives, implementation of monitoring and research programs, and from these, developing achievable completion criteria, standards and milestones. This paper utilizes various examples to show that, whilst several companies have developed completion criteria for fauna, caution is warranted if mines are to avoid setting criteria that may prove difficult to assess, or unattainable milestones.

References:
Brennan, K. (2002) The Successional Response of Spider Communities Following the Multiple Disturbances of Mining
and Burning in the Western Australian Jarrah Forest. PhD Thesis, Curtin University of Technology, Perth.
DITR (2006) Biodiversity Management. Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry
Handbook. Dept. of Industry Tourism and Resources, Canberra, Australia.
EMRC (2004) Development of rehabilitation completion criteria for native ecosystem rehabilitation on coal mines in
the Bowen Basin. Australian Coal Association Research Program Project C12045.
EMRC (2005) Development of rehabilitation completion criteria for native ecosystem rehabilitation on coal mines in
the Hunter Valley. Australian Coal Association Research Program Project C13048.
EMRC (1999) PT Kaltim Prima Coal: A recommended monitoring program for areas rehabilitated following coal
mining operations at Sangatta, East Kalimantan. Consulting report prepared for PT Kaltim Prima Coal, Sangatta,
East Kalimantan, Indonesia. June 1999.
Fox, B.J. (1996) Long-term studies of small-mammal communities from disturbed habitats in eastern Australia. In M.J.
Cody and J.A. Smallwood (eds) Long-term Studies of Vertebrate Communities. Academic Press, San Diego,
pp. 467-501.
ICMM (2005) Biodiversity Offsets – a briefing paper for the mining industry. Report prepared by the International
Council on Mining and Metals, London.
ICMM (2006) Good Practice Guidance for Mining and Biodiversity. International Council on Mining and Metals,
London.
Jasper, D.A., Nichols, O.G. and Veneklaas, E. (2003) A review of indicators of success for rehabilitated tropical forest
systems. Report to Misima Mines Limited prepared by Outback Ecology Services, February 2003. Perth,
Western Australia.
Jasper, D.A., Veneklaas, E., Nichols, O.G. and Tongway, D.J. (2006) Indicators of success for mine site restoration in
tropical moist forest ecosystems. In A.B. Fourie and M. Tibbett (2006) Mine Closure 2006. Proceedings of the
Developing Achievable Completion Criteria for Fauna — Can it be Done? O.G. Nichols
First International Seminar on Mine Closure, 13-15 September 2006, Perth, Western Australia. Australian Centre
for Geomechanics, University of Western Australia, pp. 719-731.
Majer, J.D., Day, J. E., Kabay, E.D. and Perriman, W.S. (1984) Recolonization by ants in bauxite mines rehabilitated by
a number of different methods. Journal of Applied Ecology 2, pp. 355-375.
Majer, J.D. (1992) Ant recolonization of rehabilitated bauxite mines of Poços de Caldas, Brazil. Journal of Tropical
Ecology 8, pp. 97-108.
Majer, J.D. (1996) Ant recolonization of rehabilitated bauxite mines at Trombetas, Para, Brazil. Journal of Tropical
Ecology 12, pp. 257-273.
Majer, J.D., Orabi, G. and Bisevac, L. (2006) Incorporation of terrestrial invertebrate data in mine closure completion
criteria adds sensitivity and value. In A.B. Fourie and M. Tibbett (eds) (2006) Mine Closure 2006. Proceedings
of the First International Seminar on Mine Closure, 13-15 September 2006, Perth, Western Australia. Australian
Centre for Geomechanics, University of Western Australia, pp. 709-717.
Majer, J.D., Brennan, K.E. and Moir, M.L. (2007) Invertebrates and the restoration of a forest ecosystem: 30 years of
research following bauxite restoration in Western Australia. Restoration Ecology 15(4)(Supplement),
pp. S104-S115.
Nichols, O.G. (1998) The development of a rehabilitation program designed to restore a jarrah forest ecosystem
following bauxite mining in south-western Australia. In H.R. Fox, H.M. Moore and A.D. McIntosh (eds). Land
Reclamation. Achieving Sustainable Benefits. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference of the
International Affiliation of Land Reclamationists, Nottingham, United Kingdom, 7-11 September 1998. A.A.
Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 315-325.
Nichols, O.G. (2006) Developing completion criteria for native ecosystem reconstruction – a challenge for the mining
industry. In A.B. Fourie and M. Tibbett (2006) Mine Closure 2006. Proceedings of the First International
Seminar on Mine Closure, 13-15 September 2006, Perth, Western Australia. Australian Centre for
Geomechanics, University of Western Australia, pp. 61-74.
Nichols, O.G. and McIntosh, K. (1998) Techniques used by Alcoa to create wetland ecosystems following clay mining
near Perth, Western Australia. In A.J. McComb and J.A. Davis (eds), Wetlands For the Future – contributions
from INTECOL's V International Wetlands Conference. Gleneagles Publishing, Adelaide. pp. 701-718.
Nichols, O.G. and Foot, P. (2002) Designing a vegetation monitoring program to achieve continual improvement and
assess the long term sustainability of mine rehabilitation. Proceedings of the Minerals Council of Australia
Sustainable Development Conference and 27th Annual Environmental Workshop, Newcastle 10-15 November
2002. pp. 79-88.
Nichols, O.G. and Nichols, F.M. (2003) Long-term trends in faunal recolonization after bauxite mining in the jarrah
forest of south-western Australia. Restoration Ecology 11, pp. 261-272.
Nichols, O.G. and Grant, C.D. (2007) Vertebrate fauna restored of rehabilitated bauxite mines - key findings from
almost 30 years of monitoring and research. Restoration Ecology 15(4)(Supplement), pp. S116-S126.
Passell, H.D. (2000) Recovery of bird species in minimally restored Indonesian tin strip mines. Restoration Ecology 8,
pp. 112-118.
Umwelt (2003) Mount Owen Operations Biodiversity Offset Strategy. Report prepared for Hunter Valley Coal
Corporation by Umwelt Environmental Consultants.
Xstrata Coal (2006) Mount Owen Complex Flora and Fauna Management Plan.




© Copyright 2024, Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG), The University of Western Australia. All rights reserved.
View copyright/legal information
Please direct any queries or error reports to repository-acg@uwa.edu.au