PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
A wide range of temporary habitats is generated by the digging of quarries, with some becoming more permanent. In many cases, the ecological value and ecosystem services quarries could generate are neglected. Quarries can act as stepping stones and play a significant role in regulating green infrastructure in landscapes. In highly urbanised landscapes quarries are an exceptional opportunity to maintain rare and threatened transient habitats that host pioneer species. Such ephemeral biodiversity in and around quarries cannot be managed through the legal protection status of a site, but their biological potential could be maximised by optimising groundwork throughout the whole exploitation process and upon closure of the quarry. However, the lack of knowledge of the ecological potential in and around quarries is hindering such biodiversity protection and preventing the restoration of ecosystem services following their closure.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE IN QUARRIES project aimed to develop biodiversity in active quarries by:
- Testing and defining methods for the restoration, maintenance and management of pioneer species and habitats;
- Testing and defining methods for preparing the physical quarry infrastructure during exploitation processes, in order to facilitate the establishment of restoration plans that will increase ecosystem services and biodiversity following exploitation;
- Identifying lock-in situations and challenges for biodiversity development in active quarries such as legal constraints, lack of biodiversity management awareness etc.;
- Developing the awareness of quarry managers, public administration managers and other local stakeholders for biodiversity management; and
- Demonstrating best practices of adapting management throughout the complete exploitation process for up to 24 Belgian quarries and sharing this experience in the European context.
RESULTS
During 6 years the LIFE in Quarries project has been demonstrating, developing and securing the potential for biodiversity in a regional network of 27 active extractive quarry sites in the Walloon region. The aim of the LIFE in Quarries project was to develop methods to optimise the biodiversity potential of mining sites operating in Belgium. The innovation consists in implementing biodiversity management measures during operation through “dynamic management”, but also during the rehabilitation at the end of mining activities through “permanent nature”. The former temporary measures were mainly intended for pioneer species, having a relatively short life span and require regular maintenance to limit the development of vegetation and the arrival of predators. The development of permanent nature is intended to last in space and time. These actions contribute to the development of diversified habitats (ponds, grasslands, shelters, vertical cliffs and sand banks, hay meadows, screes), hosting populations of rare or threatened species (flora, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, bats), completing the regional ecological network and allowing a natural recolonization of disused areas.
The project aimed at creating a win-win for nature and the industry situation where quarries could act as a network of sites by:
(i) significantly contributing to the management of pioneer biodiversity at the regional level;
(ii) promoting post exploitation restoration during the exploitation phase that would enhance both biodiversity and ecosystem services provisions - thus participating to the development of a regional Green Infrastructure;
(iii) promoting awareness of its members on biodiversity stakes at play and means to favor it in quarries; while,
(iv) securing the long term management through the legal securing of the dynamic management of biodiversity throughout the exploitation phase and the provision of adequate tools for monitoring outcomes, allowing for protected species to coexist with the exploitation.
Legal and viable management plans were developed to ensure the long term viability of the actions and milestones have been reached through the validation of engagement of a 15 year charter text, administrative circular, approval of derogations by DNF for 25 quarries and signature of charters with FEDIEX, individual quarries and the Minister of Environment. This charter commits the quarries to implement their management plan, and conduct regular monitoring and reporting. The development of a series of didactic monitoring and reporting tools are easy to use, ready and available for new quarry operators. As such, this project has laid the foundations for the transfer of biodiversity management practices to new quarries both within and beyond Belgium.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section).
