Best Practice Ecological Rehabilitation of Mined Lands Conference

The Sixth Annual Best Practice Ecological Rehabilitation of Mined Lands Conference will be held in the Singleton Civic Centre, NSW, on the 7^th April 2016.  Bringing together miners, rehabilitation practitioners, scientists, governmental regulators and the interested public to share their thinking, experience and learning, the conference also provides ample break times offering delegates splendid networking opportunities.

Mine Site Tours on Friday 8th April will visit local mine sites that have started or completed rehabilitation works (highly recommended by conference participants).

In line with the growing international flavour of the conference, we expect delegates from Kalimantan Indonesia, the USA and France. Confirmed speakers include Prof Mariola Wrobel, who will present an update on the mine rehabilitation scene in Poland with particular reference to the restoration of opencast lignite mines for forestry, agriculture and water storage. Her research focuses on selection of the best species of trees and shrubs for biological reclamation of such degraded lands. Australian truffle expert Andrew Claridge will lead papers dealing with the very important role that soil bacteria and fungi play in the successful establishment of substantial plant communities on mined land. The soil ecosystems that exist pre-mining are greatly diminished and disturbed during mining and storage. Revegetation post-mining is severely compromised if insufficient microorganisms are present to allow the phosphorus and nitrogen cycles to recommence. Other speakers will present their work on mine voids and the evolution of the regulations that govern rehabilitation and mine closure.  . www.tomfarrellinstitute.org/2016-mined-lands-conference.html