Skip to main content
Log in

Revegetation and ecosystem reclamation of post-mined land: toward sustainable mining

  • Review
  • Published:
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mining plays a central role in the global economy, making a substantial contribution to export earnings. Nevertheless, implementing sustainable mining practices that prioritise environmental responsibility during extraction remains a major challenge. In response, governments around the world have instituted policies, with the primary aim of promoting sustainable mining practices and preserving the ecosystem for future generations. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, mining operations continue to cause substantial ecological damage, marked by the transformation of landscapes and the fragmentation of ecosystems. Although regulations exist for the rehabilitation of areas degraded by mining activities, many technical aspects, particularly in relation to open-pit mining, remain poorly defined. In this article, we propose an in-depth look at a ‘green’ approach rooted in reclamation through revegetation-based techniques to address this critical issue. Although there are challenges such as species selection and harsh environmental conditions, revegetation and remediation techniques for reclamation offer many benefits, including soil enrichment, habitat restoration and promoting the recovery of local biodiversity. In addition, emerging technologies, such as nanomaterials, have demonstrated their effectiveness in improving soil fertility. They enable effective and long-term rehabilitation of soils disturbed by mining activities. Despite the considerable environmental impact associated with mining, the implementation of these innovative techniques promises to produce positive results and make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the mining sector. By adopting environmentally friendly practices and constantly improving reclamation strategies, the mining industry can strive to reduce its ecological footprint and ensure a more sustainable future for itself and the surrounding ecosystems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the industrial chair SPGP concluded between OCP S.A. (OCP) and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P). We acknowledge all researchers from whose original works this paper is written. We also acknowledge also all the reviewers who provided expert advice for a better result.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Conceptualization: Hamza Zine; Writing—original draft preparation: Hamza Zine, Abdelhak Elmansour and Fatiha Abrar; Writing—review and editing: Eleni G. Papazoglou, Rachid Hakkou; Funding acquisition: Mostafa Benzaazoua; Supervision: Rachid Hakkou and Mostafa Benzaazoua.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Zine.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Additional information

Editorial responsibility: Nour Sh. El-Gendy.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zine, H., Hakkou, R., Papazoglou, E.G. et al. Revegetation and ecosystem reclamation of post-mined land: toward sustainable mining. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-024-05697-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-024-05697-3

Keywords

Navigation