Restoration and Sustainable Development of Mine-Affected Soils and Degraded Lands

Restoration and Sustainable Development of Mine-Affected Soils and Degraded Lands: Advances for Natural Resources Conservation and Land Sustainability explores the latest advancements across various aspects of sustainable post-mining land development. The chapters begin with an assessment of environmental legacies resulting from mining activities across different environmental areas covering the pedosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere, and considers their interconnections and material fluxes. This is followed by prediction and analysis of the environmental benefits and challenges linked to mine closure and the transition to renewable energy at the local and regional levels. Further chapters investigate the social and economic opportunities and obstacles concerning mine closure and the phasing out of coal, viewed from regional, national, and global perspectives. There is also discussion of management approaches that consider environmental, socio-economic, and political challenges, aiming to draw insights from both successful experiences and lessons learned from research and experiences focusing on barriers and failures. The text concludes with an examination of the connection between soil and human health in mine-affected areas. This much needed collection offers mining engineers, soil scientists, and environmental resource managers an invaluable resource for their current and future work.

• Provides an integrated understanding of the complex challenges and opportunities associated with mine-affected soils, degraded lands, and transition to renewable energy.
• Applies a global perspective for those involved in environmental policy, resource management, and sustainable development, as it allows them to adapt successful strategies to the unique contexts of their respective regions.
• Analyses the multifaceted challenges of mine-affected areas and ensures that readers can apply the knowledge to their specific responsibilities, fostering a more effective and collaborative approach to sustainable land development.