The Nepal Weekly 
October 31, 2023
Mining has been and remained part of the human existence from stone age quarries through the iron and coal that fueled the industrial revolution, to new materials needed to support the shift to renewable energy. Mining and mining product are major contributors to national economies with mining value tripling in the past two decades. As of 2020, the global mining footprint was 57,000 km2 and growing at the faster rate now than any other time in the human history. Much of this footprint is operational, but in many areas where mining is now complete, the sites represent major environmental liabilities. Although site stabilization and managing waste materials remains challenging part of mine closure in many parts of the world, the environmental liability of these sites means more than being just safe, stable and nonpolluting, with companies increasingly expected to restore ecosystems that are representatives of their pre-mined (natural) state.
Mine Site Restoration Standard (MSRS)
The International Principals and Standard for the Ecological Restoration and Recovery of Mine Sites (Mine Site Restoration Standard MSRS) present the first international framework for the delivery of socially and environmentally responsible ecological restoration after mining, regardless of whether restoration is legally mandated. The MSRS are designed to inspire and drive higher and better outcomes in post-mining landscape by both guiding and encouraging the highest level of restoration achievable that supports the global need for protecting and restoring nature. This comes at a time of unparalleled global human impacts where climate change, land degradation and desertification and biodiversity loss threaten the very ecological fabric of the planet. The MSRS aims to provide a framework for the mining industry, government and the stakeholders, including Indigenous peoples and local communities, to address mining specific issues in delivering effective restoration of mine sites. The MSRS emphasize that achieving the highest possible ecological out-comes depends upon ingenuity, knowledge investment, and supportive corporate aspiration to build a culture of continuous improvement. Thus, adoption of the MSRS by industry can reduce environmental, financial, and corporate risk in achieving site relinquishment by demonstration the highest possible commitment to stakeholders, increasing natural capital, responding to climate change and land degradation, and recovering biodiversity, including threatened and culturally significant species.
Global Gathering on Ecological Restoration
This year, there was two major gatherings held in the month of September and October in Australia. World Conference on Ecological Restoration was held on 26-30 September in Darwin and Hands-on Workshop on “Mine Site Restoration Standard” held in Perth on 2-4 October. I got opportunity to take part in both Conference and workshop. As this article is related with mine related restoration standard, I am writing here short information on the outcome of the mine site restoration workshop.
Three-day workshop on “The International Standards Principles and Standards for the Ecological Restoration and Recovery of Mine Sites” was held in Perth, Australia on 2-4 October jointly organized by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) and UNCCD G20 Global Land Initiative. This was a unique hands-on workshop conducted through interactive discussion, case studies, and practical exercises to promote SER International Principles and Standards for the Ecological Restoration and Recovery of Mine Sites. 37 participants from different parts of the globe took part in the workshop. During the workshop, participants got chance to learn about the distinction between reclamation, rehabilitation, and ecological restoration; engaging with local and indigenous communities; importance of standard-based restoration; off-site recovery of legacy mines; identifying and applying appropriate reference models; use of ecological recovery and social benefits wheels; and importance of native seeds and supply chains. World renowned experts Prof Kingsley Dixon, George Gann, Dr. Renee young, Natalie Tashe, Dr. Kathy meney, Zane Gughes, Dr, Simone Pedrini and Dr. Michael Just, took part as instructors of the workshop offering blend of their theoretical knowledge and practical experience. This hands-on workshop includes two-day field trip such as a coal mine operating in Collie, Western Australia, Lake Kepwari (a mine void remained and became Lake Kepwari), Handson Construction Materials Site, Tranen Revegetation System operating in Southwest Australia. During the workshop, participants got chance to know in-depth knowledge on the MSRS, Ecological Recovery Wheel, Social Benefits Wheel and Native Seeds.
Eight Principles of MSRS
MSRS underpinned by eight principles such as:
1. Engage stakeholders thought-out the mining lifecycle,
2. Utilize diverse knowledge sources,
3. Use reference ecosystems as benchmark while considering environmental change,
4. Support natural ecosystem recovery processes,
5. Employ measurable indicators to assess goals and objectives,
6. Seek the highest level of ecological recovery possible,
7. Realize cumulative value when applied at large scales,
8. Implement a range of restorative activities.
Ecological Recovery Wheel
Ecological Recovery Wheel is based on evaluation relies on a five-star rating system with six main attributes such as absence of threat, physical conditions, species composition, structural diversity, ecosystem function and external exchanges. MSRS is an important tool for ecological restoration practitioner, which is aligned with United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, The Mitigation Hierarchy, and International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration. The MSRS represent a living document that will evolve and develop as technological ability, community and environment expectations, and understanding of mine site restoration changes over time.
