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Session 6.2 - 4 June 2015 Reconciling nature and economic activities Dr Michelle Wyart-Remy, IMA-Europe AISBL

4 June 2015 Green Week 2015

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IMA-Europe in a nutshell the Industrial Minerals Association-Europe

• IMA-Europe is an umbrella organisation which brings together ten associations specific to individual industrial minerals

• IMA-Europe represents 95-99% of the European producers in almost each of its member Associations

24 EU Member States + Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine

500 companies: i.e. 685 mines & quarries, 750 plants

42,500 employees

180 million tpa

EUR 10 billion turnover more: http://www.ima-europe.eu

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The mineral industry case • Minerals are indispensable to society in daily manufactured goods as

well as green and high-tech applications: e.g. solar and wind renewable energy and clean water supply

• Occupying < 0.1% of the EU land area, the sector is highly regulated through land planning and permitting procedures, including environment and biodiversity preservation

• Access to resources depends on geology and on various national, local authorities and communities acceptance

• Companies initiate actions and gain their license to operate through:

Corporate Social Responsibility, local community dialogue, environmental certifications, industry initiatives such as the European Minerals Day (EU-wide open-doors), sustainable development charters, Countdown 2010

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Sustainable extraction including in Natura 2000 areas

Four pillars 1. Mining integration

2. Compensation of remaining effects

3. Restoration

4. Dialogue and partnership

Let’s look at a few examples

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1. Mining Integration

Preventing and mitigating possible negative impacts during mining,

while benefiting of biodiversity enhancement

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Sand martins (riparia riparia) nesting on a cliff face in a bentonite Bavarian mine (Germany). Mining is interrupted during the breading period

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A Bank Swallow’s colony settled in a pile of crushed limestone in Frasnes (Belgium). Following an ornithologist NGO advice, the company built another pile outside the extraction area where the colony successfully extended with up to 260 couples. Their natural breeding sites are vertical loose riverbanks increasingly scarce

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2. Compensation

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Creating biotopes before and during mining

e.g. converting agricultural grounds to grasslands, hay, spontaneous forestation

The Opgrimbie Quarry became part of the National Park “Hoge Kempen” in Maasmechelen

For this project the company was granted the prestigious Anders Wall Foundation Award

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From (island) agricultural grounds to grasslands, hay, spontaneous forestation

Creating “swamps” and pools

Creating sand plates for wet hay vegetation development

Around silica sand extraction, BE

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3. Restoration

Creating new biotopes and habitats when extraction ceases Land is almost all (99%) returned to nature at the end of the activities

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Trachilas/Milos perlite mine, EL • Research programmes 1997-2010 with academia

to identify native plant species most being reproduced in the nursery plant

• Optimisation of hydro seeding techniques increased plants survival and eliminated irrigation

• Selection of seeds based on origin and time collection

• Reintroducing endemic plant species (e.g. the Aegean Lily ) and rare plants species (e.g. Milos Juniper, Milean gillyflower, Sea fennel).

Dianthus fruticosus Crithmum maritimum

Juniperus macrocarpa

2002 – Active mine

2007 – reclamation completed

Current mining activity visible next to reclaimed part of the mine

Today

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4. Dialogue & Partnership

Along the various steps (e.g. planning, restoration design) with communities,

academia, nature conservation associations, local authorities, etc.

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Rabenwald Talc mine, AU

Talc mining at Rabenwald dates back to 1820. ~100,000 tons of talc are mined annually. The mine open pit area is part of the Nature Park “Pöllauer Tal” covering 123 km2 Goal: Through cooperation between the Natural Park and the company to study biodiversity in the present & future mining areas drawing conclusions for the sustainable development of local and regional species Outcome: 27 biotope types and 220 plant species were found. Some on the endangered species’ list which means that the post mine area provides habitat for those species to resettle. Re-naturation (natural closing up soils by pioneer plants) versus re-cultivation (spraying weed seeds) were compared and recommendations deduced and widely communicated • 2‐year‐exhibition with 1000 visitors; • A booklet • Austrian Mining Authorities use results to optimise re-

cultivation legal framework

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Reconciling nature & extraction

• Extractive industry , like other land users, operates within the frame of environmental laws, which include both the Habitats & Birds Directives

• Habitats Directive Article 6 lays down the procedure to be followed for authorising plans and projects susceptible to impact Natura 2000 sites

• Natura 2000 Guidance for the Non-energy extractive industry (2011)

Strategic planning, early dialogue and consultation are key

Appropriate assessment under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive must be carried out correctly

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“There are also a growing number of examples where an extraction site has, over the course of its entire life cycle, delivered an overall net benefit for biodiversity”

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Quarrying creates Natura 2000 sites

Clay deposits

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Quarrying creates Natura 2000 sites

RHEINLAND PFALZ

Natura 2000

Yellow-bellied toad and other amphibians only exist in active clay mining sites. Their presence generates and bridges Natura 2000 sites. Not there before mining started, they are there as long as clay extraction takes place When extraction stops amphibians leave after some time, due to the succession of nature. Amphibian presence and clay quarrying is linked. This is acknowledged by the Administration & the NGOs

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The Bunge Ducker limestone mining project in Northern Gotland:

In 2002, intending to designate a company property as a Natura 2000 site, the provincial government suggests alternative location outside Natura 2000. Land purchase, prospecting, planning and test quarrying starts. Mid-2012, after 7 years Court proceedings, permit for extracting limestone is granted. Following campaign actions, Court ruling on the conditions is appealed, but the Supreme Court rejects the claims for suspension.

• 140 000 hectares of natural conservation land on Gotland. • 6-7 Mio tpa limestone produced, i.e 2/3 of Swedish production; ~600 direct & indirect jobs. • Swedish Geological Survey: the area is of national interest for mineral quarrying. • Sustainable development, energy & housing Minister: mineral extraction is a priority in Bunge. • Proposed compensation: restoring wetlands, studying the plant Pilosella dichotoma, as well as

allocating another 300 ha in the company possession. • Aftercare proposed options: water catchment, nature lake, culture & sports centre. • Aftercare deposited guarantee: Mio€ ~4. Total investment: Mio€ ~70.

A case of competing land interests

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A case of competing land interests The Bunge Ducker limestone mining project in Northern Gotland (SE)

Natura 2000

Today there is a proposal to introduce a new Natura 2000 area overlapping the entire Bunge quarry area, while a permit application was completed with several impact assessments

Are nature preservation instruments properly used?

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A Horizon 2020 funded project 24 partners from 19 EU Countries - Duration: 1 February 2015 - 31 January 2018

Overall objective:

Develop a concept and methodology (i.e. a harmonised European regulatory/guidance/ policy framework) for definition and subsequent protection of “mineral deposits of public importance” (MDoPI) in order to safeguard them for their “best use” in the future, resulting in improved conditions for sustainable access and supply of raw materials in EU

• MDoPI definition at EU, national & regional level

• On-shore & off shore EU raw material deposits

• A universal methodology in safeguarding MDoPI in the EU to be tested on on-shore and off shore test-cases

• Ensure to safeguard these MDoPI through early, appropriate and inclusive land planning policies for later development

Website: http://www.minatura.eu/

MINATURA2020 - to provide responses

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Conclusions

• Reconciling Nature and Extraction is possible

• Procedures require transparency, certainty, timeline – a one-stop shop helps!

• Exchange of best practices between Member States improves understanding

• Criteria defining mineral deposits of local, regional, national or European importance are needed to clarify competing land interest situation

• MINATURA2020 project to deliver results in 2018

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Tank you for your attention!

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Dr Michelle Wyart-Remy

IMA - Europe, Brussels

Tel: +322 210 44 10

secretariat@ima-europe.eu

http://www.ima-europe.eu