Please, place here any alternatives for future planning and development of the post-mining landscapes, as well as any scenario you would like to propose for the case studies. Please, clearly indicate to which case study you are proposing the scenario.
Consultation on proposed future scenarios for the case studies
Considering the different alternatives for future planning and development of the post-mining landscape, as well as the need to improve socio-economic outcomes and to catalyse the development of new jobs, different types of land rehabilitation and ecosystem restoration actions can be proposed in order to generate different scenarios:
1. Recolonization of the site by local vegetation.
2. Commercial forestry plantations.
3. Secondary forests using local plant species.
4. Development for agriculture: arable land and pastures.
5. Leisure and recreational purposes: museums and recreation areas.
6. Areas for physical recreation.
7. Space for wildlife and nature conservation.
8. Development of artificial water bodies, e.g., lakes, reservoirs, streams, etc.
9. Renewable energy generation: photovoltaic and wind power.
10. Industrial areas and business facilities.
11. Residential areas, etc.
For the FIGAREDO MINE area, among the different actions that can be considered to recover the site, the following five alternatives were considered as the most feasible by the UNIVERSITY OF OVIEDO, taking into consideration Figaredo mine area features: (1) pine tree plantation for producing wood as raw material, (2) cows reared for nutritional purpose, (3) the reconstruction of a Broad-leaved forest similar to the ones already present in the region, (4) recolonisation by local vegetation with no restoration actions, and (5) physical recreation area.
CCOO (Trade Union Comisiones Obreras) is a very important trade union in Spain and also in the Asturian mining districts and in the company HUNOSA. From this organization, we are following the RECOVERY project closely and we think that it is very interesting. The different alternatives to use and recover the site, such as planting native vegetation, energy crops, pastures and recreational uses are very good ideas. Nevertheless, we should not forget that the possibility of using some suitable surfaces in the coal mining waste heaps to carry out renewable energy projects, such as the implementation of photovoltaic panels, should also be assessed.
Thank you very much for the comment. Renewable energy generation with photovoltaic panels will be considered in the generation of possible scenarios for FIGAREDO MINE.
Due to the large surface area, several options for planning, restoration, management and planting of different species, together with their uses and activities, can be considered for the FIGAREDO area.
Firstly, there is an area that we can call the edge-space, which can be defined as the first perimeter of the enclosure. The ideal species for this perimeter are Les Espineres (Majuelos) and Los Carrascos (Acebos). They have always been traditionally used as hedges and perimeter enclosures for farms, acting as a very effective natural enclosure from this point of view and producing sufficient fruit for the fauna (mainly birds) throughout the year, as they bear fruit at different times of the year. To these two species we could add the Ablanu (Hazel).
There is a second area, more or less sloping, which can be distributed in terraces, separated by horizontal accesses, to facilitate the management of these spaces. They should not be too large between them (10/20 m). These spaces are ideal for planting fruit trees, always planted in staggered, non-aligned rows, in order to allow adequate light to enter all the specimens in the plantation. Here the species that can be planted are abundant and extensive, ranging from cherry trees, apple trees, pear trees, pine trees, plum trees, etc. Always native species, which are perfectly adapted to the area. The horizontal accesses or ditches facilitate the harvesting and transport of the fruit.
The third space would be identified in the land with less topographic inclination, it is supposed to be the lowest parts of the whole surface of the restored dump, where fruit and vegetable orchards can be installed. Traditionally, it has been proven that basin dumps are ideal spaces for this activity, something that was already proven by the local population. Even without adding topsoil to the soil cover, it is easy to see these gardens with the black soil from the basin dumps. What these farmers did was, over time, a completely manual sifting of the sterile soil. The preparation and delimitation of the plots is relatively easy, even with the construction of barracks for shoring and road access to the organisation of the orchard spaces.
A final area, already restored, is the westernmost part, that of Sarabia. In addition to the restoration with the species already planted, it can be implemented with the planting of Ablanos on the edges of the accesses and slopes. This is a medium sized tree that acts as a closure of the “border” and provides sufficient fruit for the fauna and at the same time for possible commercial use, if considered, or for society in general. This space, due to the current easement accesses, can be used for recreational purposes (circuit for sports, recreational stays for families, etc.). A space can be designed to explain what a dump is, what it was used for, integrating the nearby flat castle, how the tailings were extracted and a general explanation of the Figaredo Mines group with explanatory panels, without forgetting the Sarabia castreño site. An explanatory area of the site and even of the other tailings dumps in the basins.
The last part is the most difficult, knowing the idiosyncrasy of the basins, which is the social and economic benefit. On the one hand, the part of the plantations and fruit orchards: it would be interesting to contact the people who are currently called “neo-rural”, who are very settled in the areas of Piloña and Cabranes, to see the possibilities of introducing the concept of “proximity trade” in Mieres and the surrounding area. The ideal would be a cooperative, which is difficult in the basins. A possible formula could be the free cession of the spaces, with a term to be defined until the possible consolidation of the project. Afterwards, a consensual lease could be agreed and considered. It is not unreasonable to set up a weekly market of zero-kilometre and seasonal products, by talking to the town councils in the geographical area of the basins.
The recreational space in the Sarabia area would have to be freely accessible, with the risks of vandalism and misuse by society. Other alternatives of closure and enclosed spaces would involve surveillance and the payment of guides to teach and disseminate what we can call: The dump: the deposit of a century and a half of tailings in the natural environment. Something difficult to carry out on a permanent basis.
Thank you very much for the comment. As far as possible they will be considered in the generation of possible scenarios for FIGAREDO MINE.
With the development of Lake Milada, the town of Chabařovice expects an increase in tourism and the tourist potential around the town, and with it the development of services in the town. Creation of new jobs in tourism and services. The big goal is to restore the village of Vyklice for all the demolished villages that had to give way to coal mining.
We also perceive the contribution of the lake surroundings in the possibility of offering space for individual sports (running, inline, roller skis, swimming, cycling, diving, paddle boarding, kaiting, windsurfing, etc.) which our citizens use a lot. Related to this is the development of mass sports events, which the city supports.