Quarry reclamation

Many former quarries have been successfully reclaimed in Estonia

 

Quarry reclamation means the restoration of post-mining land to forest land, cultivated grassland, or arable land, as well as the creation of a new type of land or landscape (water body, park, recreation area, etc.) [1]. The reclamation of the world’s mining landscapes began in Germany as early as in the eighteenth century [2], but intensified after World War II, when post-war landscapes began to be restored [3].

 

In Estonia, it was only in the 1960s that quarry reclamation began by planting fast-growing tree species, such as birch and aspen, in these areas [2, 4, 5], arranging the areas in a way as to allow the establishment of sports fields and recreation areas. Today, roughly the same principles are used as back in the 1960s, but there is an added perception of more diverse planning of the surroundings, which also means restoring the area’s natural value. A common approach is to create a water body that provides a habitat for animal and bird species (such as frogs, common redshanks, sand martins), as well as a swimming area along the water body that increases recreational opportunities [6].

 

Today, quarry reclamation is based on the principle that areas should be as natural as possible afterwards, and that the slope must be flat to reduce soil erosion. There are many possibilities for designing the area, the most common of which is certainly the establishment of forests, arable land, bodies of water, and construction land [1].

 

On the basis of the reclamation project, quarry reclamation begins with technical reclamation: the excavated area is levelled, the slopes are smoothed and, if necessary, covered with fertile soil. In the course of biological rehabilitation, the environmental condition of the area is improved and landscaping is established. Many former quarries have been successfully reclaimed in Estonia: one of them is the Aidu quarry, which is now a water sports centre, and the Männiku and Rummu quarries are well-known recreational sites as well.

 

SOMETIMES, NATURE ITSELF CONTRIBUTES TO THE RECULTIVATION OF MINING AREAS. The photo shows the Kamariku quarry in Lääne Viru County, which is filled with water and has formed an artificial lake with a relatively diverse shoreline.
SOMETIMES, NATURE ITSELF CONTRIBUTES TO THE RECULTIVATION OF MINING AREAS. The photo shows the Kamariku quarry in Lääne Viru County, which is filled with water and has formed an artificial lake with a relatively diverse shoreline. By: Kuno Kasak

 

 

                                                                                                                                               Text: Kristjan Piirimäe, Kuno Kasak

                                                                                                                                                Editors: Sigrid Ots, Reigo Roasto

 

 

Last modified: 13.01.2022

 

 

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[1] E. Niitlaan, E. Reinsalu. Uuringuruumi teenindusalade korrastamise õiguslikud nõuded (koost. Ü. Rammul, E. Niitlaan, E. Reinsalu ja L. Keerberg). Ehitusmaavarade uuringu- ja kaevandamisalade korrastamise käsiraamat. OÜ Inseneribüroo STEIGER, 2017. 

[2] M. Vaus. Eesti põlevkivikarjääride pinnaste metsakasvatuslikud omadused. Tallinn: Valgus, 1970.

[3] A. Bradshaw, R. Hüttl. Future minesite restoration involves a broader approach. Ecological Engineering, 2001, 87–90.

[4] M. Pensa, A. Luud, H. Karu, R. Vaht, R. Taimkatte taastumine põlevkivikarjäärides: istutatud ja looduslikult uuenenud puistute võrdlus (toim. M. Sammul, A. Lõhmus). Ökoloogiline taastamine (96−112). Tartu: Eesti Looduseuurijate Seltsi aastaraamat, 2005, nr 83. https://www.etis.ee/Portal/Publications/Display/6da8f35a-029d-4a9f-b229-ac3ed5f6eea2.

[5] I. R. Hunter, M. Hobley, P. Smale. Afforestation of degraded land – pyrrihic victory over economic, social and ecological reality. Ecological Engineering, 1998/10, 97–106.

[6] K. Sepp, K. Metsaots. Vanade karjääride taastamise võimalused. Slaidettekanne. Eesti Maaülikool, 2018.