Rehabilitation

This booklet outlines the main steps to effective closure and rehabilitation planning.

Rehabilitation

Recognising that the rapidly increasing human footprint may eventually destroy ecological services on which humankind depends, restoring natural habitats is receiving increasing attention. In Namibia EnviroScience is one of the forerunners introducing the concept of ecological restoration.

Mine closure planning

Restoring habitats towards post-mining land use is one element of an effective closure plan. Demolishing infrastructure, remediating pollution and incorporating stakeholder views are other important elements in this process. Tackling 100 years of mining legacy, Namdeb’s comprehensive rehabilitation plan was recently completed by EnviroScience. Based on this experience EnviroScience compiled rehabilitation planning guidelines for all De Beers operations.

Restoration in the mining context

Shaping landforms to match the surrounding, providing suitable niches and substrates for plants, re-establishing natural flow conditions and initiating the process of natural re-colonisation are some of the components of ecological restoration. Many years of practical experience have enabled EnviroScience to develop cost-effective and efficient techniques adapted to the Namib’s challenging environmental conditions.

Natural recovery

Impact management and resulting interventions in restoration need to take the process and time frames of natural recovery into account. Read more...