Post-mining Landscape Reclamation: A Comparison between Portugal and Estonia

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1 Post-mining Landscape Reclamation: A Comparison between Portugal and Estonia SUSE DIAS, THOMAS PANAGOPOULOS Department of Landscape Architecture Faculty of Natural Resources; University of Algarve Faro PORTUGAL susedias@gmail.com; tpanago@ualg.pt LUIS LOURES Landscape Architecture Programme; School of Planning, Design, and Construction, Michigan State University, East Lansing, U.S.A. lcloures@hotmail.com Abstract: - Post-industrial landscapes are frequently left abandoned; however, throughout the last decades, this attitude has been changing given the need to protect the environment. Currently the recovery and redevelopment of those spaces are more common and it is acknowledged that this kind of interventions can contribute to achieve sustainable development. In this sense, it is important to understand if those strategies contribute effectively to protect the environment, to improve the landscape, boost economic activity and enhance life quality helping in fact to accomplish the objective of sustainable development. With the intention to analyze the relevance of those interventions, this article presents a comparative analysis between two distinct case studies: the reclamation and redevelopment proposals for the S. Domingos mine in Portugal and the Aidu mine in Estonia. Key-Words: Mine reclamation, Industrial landscape, Swot analysis. 1 Introduction Since the beginning of humanity, landscapes have been shaped and modified [1, 2, 3] the boundaries between culture and nature are in the process of dissolving and people are mistaking nature for what in reality is shaped by culture [4]. The appearance of everything that was created by nature and man, contributed to landscape development originating the appearance of what is known today, as the cultural landscape [5, 6, 7]. However, the search for profit maximization and the unmeasured resource consumption led and continue to lead to landscape degradation and to the disappearance of several natural assets. Much of the world s wealth is derived from mining, but as consequence land surfaces are inevitably disturbed. In new and old Europe, mining continues without subsequent rehabilitation, and the landscape is changing significantly [8]. Mining is an activity that can occur almost everywhere [9], and that landscape degradation is very often caused by mining activities which after exploitation are left abandoned [10] leaving considerable marks in the landscape [11]. Those facts increase the need to appreciate the different redevelopment possibilities that might be applied to those spaces, during and after the extractive activity. Objective of the present study is to address this problem and present two case studies of post-mining landscape reclamation. It will be presented: the S. Domingos mine in Portugal and the Aidu mine from the new EU member Estonia. 2 Case Studies The S. Domingos Mine in Portugal and the Aidu Mine in Estonia have landscape reclamation projects which had as objective to increase the environmental and landscape quality of the degraded space. Currently the redevelopment and the recovery of this kind of spaces are considered the most appropriate solution. From many authors it is acknowledged that this kind of interventions can contribute to achieve sustainable development [12, 13]. In this sense, it is important to understand if the strategies used, help in fact, to accomplish this objective and if they contribute effectively boost the economy and improve the environment, and life quality. In the next chapters it will be presented analyzed and compared two distinct case studies of those 440 ISSN:

2 interventions. The first is located in Portugal which adapted its national legislation to the 337 EU directive of 1985 [14] with various environmental lows [15, 16, 17, 18]; and the second in the new EU member Estonia. In 1994, the newly independent Estonia, felt the need to protect the environment from development projects and created the Earth s Crust Act that later was reviewed and became a low of environmental management and impact assessment in 2004 [19]. 2.1 Portugal Mina de S. Domingos Currently, the industrial landscape is no longer marked by the chimneys, smells and smokes that long ago encircled and characterized the nucleus that has being explored [20]. However, in Portugal it is still possible to find some of these landscapes and the S. Domingos Mine is a good remnant. The S. Domingos Mine was considered to be the largest reserve of copper located in South Portugal, in the municipality of Mértola. The mine exploration began in 1858 under the supervision of the English company Manson & Barry. The installation of this mining complex promoted several changes in the natural landscape as it is the case of dam and lake creation in the surrounding area; the topographic alteration caused by the extraction of the ore and the construction of the railway connecting the space with the Pomarão [20]. Another significant change in the landscape are the mine structures that occupy most of the degraded area (acidic lake, galleries, miners houses, warehouses, etc.) constituting a typical enterprise of the Industrial Revolution in Portugal. Until the closing of the exploration in 1966, the village was under the control of the mine company Manson & Barry and its concessionaire La Sabina. The changes introduced to the regulations during the seventies, start transforming the traditional village by constructing new buildings; altering the characteristic typologies of the space and by creating leisure and recreational facilities. With the closing of the mine, there were several other structures that stopped functioning and were left abandoned as was the cases of the hospital, pharmacy, theatre, palace buildings and the power plant. In recent years, the urban nucleus had some new development due to focus in heritage tourism, history of the place and culture. The creation of a fluvial beach in the Tapada Grande, including a picnic recreational park and a café, also helped to attract hundreds of visitors during the Summer time. Today an extensive area of remnant piles, buildings in ruins and a large acidic lake can be found in the former industrial landscape. The original structure of the urban nucleus is still the same however disordered illegal construction after mine closure caused the loss of urban space character Redevelopment plan analysis The existing proposal for the S. Domingos Mine was developed in the late nineties by the GTL (Local Technical Office). The proposal was constituted by reclamation and redevelopment project, with main purpose to preserve and valorise the existing mining structures, in order to emphasise their historic and socio-economic significance (Figure 1). The project had the following objectives: (1) propose the classification of the urban nucleus as a historical centre of mining and industrial heritage; (2) protect and improve the landscape and the urban architectural heritage and promote the development through cultural tourism, and; (3) elaborate a management plan that could reorganize and renew the urban fabric, defining lines of orientation for the existing structures and spaces. Figure 1-Master Plan of the S. Domingos Mine (1: Public Garden; 2: Mine Museum; 3: Cultural Centre; 4: Civic Centre; 5: Central Plaza; 6: Event Plaza; 7: Commercial area; 8: Sports Complex; 9: Residential Area; 10: Municipal Market). Source: C.M.Mértola To achieve these objectives the redevelopment plan proposed a rehabilitation of the existing former mining structures and public spaces, a recovery of the built structures which may contribute to cultural tourism, and; a reorganization of the spaces attached to the houses of the former miners, the civic and the economic centre. Although the S. Domingos Mine already possesses a project elaborated and presented in public in the year of 2002, little progress was made since then. The recovery of the Coreto Garden might be an example of a recovered site, even though it had not followed the existing plan. Also some buildings were recovered, as it is the example of the Market, 441 ISSN:

3 the Republican Centre, the Miners House and the Documentation Centre. 2.2 Estonia Aidu Mine The Aidu mine is situated in the south-western area of the city of Kohtla-Järve, situated in the central part of one of the largest oil shale deposits of the country. This deposit is inserted in the Baltic Basin of Oil Shale that is located north-eastern of the East European Platform [21]. The development of this industrial activity has had negative impacts in the landscape, soil, water and air as well as in the health of the inhabitants [22]. One of the great alterations provoked by those mines is the appearance of so called ash spoils, that occupy 20Km² of the territory, which is equivalent to about 230 million tons of leached ashes [22]. The artificial landscapes are characteristic in the study area. They are composed by accumulations of waste from the exploration of oil shale. These accumulations are normally classified as Ash spoils and being the most representative part of the identity of those landscapes, get sometimes the status of industrial heritage and considered as attractive. The Aidu mine area is 25,6km², of which 21,2km² had been already explored. In this type of mine, after the extraction of the mineral resource, the removed superior ground layer is mixed with the existing soil, levelled and then replanted with autochthonous trees. Sometimes in the levelling of the ground, slopes are created in order to form more attractive landscapes [23]. The exploring entity of Aidu mine (Eesti Põlevkivi), integrates on its mining processes, the reforestation of the explored mining areas. This reforestation follows the norms of the Ministry of the Environment and in this case the project was elaborated by the department of Landscape Architecture of the University Eesti Maaülikool, which in 2005 established an official cooperation programme with the company. The reforestation is divided in two stages: first, the Eesti Põlevkivi levels the explored land which is left on reserve during some years, until it reaches a state of considerable balance, later the forest is planted in the prepared land, by the forest department of the district. The recovery process of this landscape intends to address economic aspects, although the main purpose is ecologic with primary objective to re-establish the fauna and flora of the affected landscape. In this study the selected species had been the Alnus glutinosa (alder), Betula pendula (birch) e Pinus sylvestris (scots pine) [24] and they are expected to stabilize the soil of the mine in 30 years. From the total mined area (25,6km²), 19,4km² had been already reforested and 1,4km² used for agricultural production (Fig. 2). Figure 2-Part of the Aidu Mine in Estonia with A: Afforested area and B: Agricultural area (Source: Maaameti Geoportaal, 2007). 3 SWOT analysis To understand the relevance of landscape reclamation in both locations, a SWOT analysis was developed, in order to analyse the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats present in this landscape, considering cultural, economic and environmental aspects (Tabe 1 and 2). Table 1 - S. Domingos mine SWOT analysis 5-star country hotel Great affluence to the fluvial beach; Inexistence of mass tourism; Strengths Integrated in the Natural Park of Vale do Guadiana; Historic and natural resources value; Heritage value of the built industrial. Aging and decreasing Population; Insufficient investments; Weaknesses Isolated town; Lack of public transportation. Extensive agriculture montado ; Creation of environmental paths. Creation of an industrial museum; Opportunities Creation of a campsite; Industrial heritage and tourism; Investment in cultural equipment; Use of the solar energy. Open acidic lake; Degradation of the industrial structures; Threats Rural exodus and aging population; Lack of employment; Very acid ground; Limited financial support from the city. 442 ISSN:

4 Table 2 - Aidu mine SWOT analysis Work force available and enabled; Inexistence of mass tourism; Strengths Proximity with St. Petersburg (Russia); Historic and natural resources value Heritage value of the built industrial. High unemployment rate; Insufficient investments; Insufficient qualified labor force; Weaknesses Reduced infrastructures of leisure; Deficient public transportation network; Efficient use of the local heritage in the tourism; Opportunities Attractive industrial heritage; Investment in cultural equipment; Coordinate use of regional funds. Sparse development; Decreasing young population. Threats Lack of employment; High environmental impacts; Unstable state politics; 3.1 Comparative analysis of the case studies After analyzing each one of the cases studies in different aspects it is important to make a comparison between them regarding the evolution of the disturbed landscape. In the analysis of table 3 it is compared the evolution of the landscape at three distinct moments (before degradation, after degradation and after reclamation). The analysis of these landscapes shows that in both spaces mining is the cause of degradation. In the case of S. Domingos, mining affected the space during 104 years, since when the mining infrastructures were constructed. The landscape was composed by plateaus of oaks, cistus spp., urzes and lavandulas. Today great part of this vegetation was substituted by vast areas of eucalyptus afforestation. Table 3: Comparison between both derelict landscapes S. Domingos Mine Aidu Mine Localization Ecologic Situation: Plateaus Streams Vegetation: Montado - oak forest Weed Ecologic Situation: Plains Lakes Vegetation: Forest Grassland Landscape Degradation Causes Mining Exploration Present Starting Point for the Intervention The Aidu mine located in the periphery of the biggest mining and energy production industrial city in Estonia, this mine has been active since the second half of 20 th century. The landscape was initially formed by vast plains with forests and grasslands. The autochthonous trees were Abies grandis (Birch), Alnus glutinosa (Alder), Betula pendula (Bétula) and Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine). During exploration, all forest areas was destroyed and substituted by waste spoils resultant from the mining extraction that provoked soil and underground water contamination. Those landscapes do not present many common points besides the cause of the degradation. The S. Domingos Mine is currently abandoned but continues to have a social activity, once miners and their families stay in the village. The Aidu mine is still active but, the negative impacts provoked by the exploration did not affected the life of the Kohtla- Järve population because is located away the city limits. In order to invert the landscape degradation of both spaces the responsible entities intend to reclaim space through: (1) a (re)qualification project for the entire village of S. Domingos and (2) a reforestation project for the Aidu Mine spoils. Table 4 presents a comparative analysis for both reclamation projects at 4 different levels: (1) the context in which the reclamation project was requested; (2) the degradation causes; (3) the responsible entity for project design, and (4) the project objectives. Table 4: Redevelopment plan comparison S. Domingos Mine Aidu Mine Localization Portugal Estonia 50ha 2560ha Promoter Municipality of Mértola Mining exploration; Derelict areas. Eesti Põlevkivi Solicitation Context Physic degradation; Biologic degradation. Degradation Causes Designer Mining exploration Eesti Maaülikool GTL Local Technical Department of Landscape Studio Architecture Objectives Sociocultural and Economic Ecologic Derelict Industrial Area; Waste Mountains; Acidic Lake; Mining Exploration. Lagoons. Future After the conclusion of the project Cultural Development Naturalization 443 ISSN:

5 It can be verified that both projects present many similarities inspired by the decreasing environmental quality and increasing public pressure for rehabilitation these affected areas. Regarding the differences between the comparison landscapes they are mainly related with the dimension and objectives of the reclamation projects which originated distinct intervention strategies. In S. Domingos Mine the area is approximately 50ha while in the Aidu mine it is 2560ha. In the Portuguese project the intention is not to emulate the landscape before the disturbance, but to use the actual cultural landscape transforming it and preserving the industrial heritage, improving its economic, social and environmental qualities and increasing its potential for tourism. In the Estonian case the intention was to emulate the landscape before mining and the project area encloses only the space that suffered degradation from extraction. The Aidu intervention strategy is to create a natural landscape and the forest and agriculture use aim mainly to re-establish the ecological function of the landscape. The Portuguese case has more ambitious intention, focusing to other aspects beyond the ecological one creating condition to attract people to a space with great cultural and environmental potential, which has been underutilized. 4 Final Remarks The destruction of ecosystems provoked by mining activities has been an intrinsic component to the development of our days. The exploration of the natural resources, has contributed to speed up the degradation of natural habitats, resulting in a reduction of biodiversity and in an increasing necessity to reclaim the spaces damaged by human activities. Fortunately landscape reclamation is now more than ever acknowledged as an essential instrument in environment protection. In this sense landscape reclamation can contribute: to develop not only the degraded site but also its surroundings; to add value to the environmental and cultural heritage; to increase the tourist potentialities and alternatives; to create economic development, etc. For this reason and in order to develop innovative solutions, that take economic, environmental and social values into consideration, it is important to understand the characteristics of the space in which we are going to intervene, as well as the territorial expectations, the soil capacity, the population needs and desires, and the legal restrictions, among others. Although Portugal adopted mine reclamation and sustainable development legislation earlier than Estonia, both countries have positive and negative aspects to follow and to avoid. The idea of sustainability can contribute to improve the conditions of derelict landscapes. However, its three dimensions must be taken into consideration (social, economic and environmental) analyzing the ways in which these can contribute for the reclamation of the affected environment, the creation of new chances for economic development and the promotion of social justice. References: [1] Loures L., Panagopoulos T. Rural landscape rehabilitation in Algarve, Portugal. In Lafortortezza, L and Sanesi, G. (Eds.) Patterns and Processes in Forest Landscapes, Consequences of Human Management, Accademia Italiana di Scienze Florestali, Firenze, Italy, 2006, pp [2] Telles, G. O homem perante a paisagem., Cidade Nova, Portugal, 4, 1956, pp [3] Cabral, F. Fundamentos da Arquitectura Paisagista. Instituto da Conservação da Natureza, Lisboa, [4] Macnaghten, P. Nature. Theory, Culture & Society, 23, 2006, pp [5] Telles, G. Um novo conceito de paisagem global: tradição, confrontos e futuro. (Jubilação do Professor Ribeiro Telles). Universidade de Évora, Evora, Portugal, 1992 [6] Carapinha, A. A escrita na Paisagem, Festival de performance e artes da terra, Portugal, Colecção B Mimesis [7] Magalhães, M. A Arquitectura Paisagista: morfologia e complexidade, Editorial Estampa, Lisboa, [8] Panagopoulos, T., Hatzistathis, A. Early growth of Pinus nigra and Robinia pseudacacia stands; contributions to soil genesis and landscape improvement on lignite spoils in Ptolemaida. Landscape and Urban Planning, 32, 1995, pp [9] Burley, J. Post-mining land-use reclamation: an introduction from a planning and design perspective. In: Burley, J. [eds.] Environmental Design for Reclaiming Surface Mines [10] Panagopoulos, T. Reclamation of sites mined for lignite in Northern Greece. Desertification in a European Context: Physical and Socio Economic Aspects. Fantechi, R., Balabanis, P.P., Rubio, J.L. (Eds). European Commission Brussels, Belgium, 1995, pp: ISSN:

6 [11] Berger, A. Reclaiming the American West. Princeton Architectural Press. Nova York, [12] Loures, L., Horta, D., Santos, A., Panagopoulos, T. Strategies to reclaim derelict industrial areas. WSEAS Transactions on Environment and Development, 2(5), 2006, pp [13] Loures L., Panagopoulos T.,. Sustainable reclamation of industrial areas in urban landscapes. WIT Transactions on Ecology and Environment, 102, 2007, pp [14] European Economic Community, Directive 85/337/CEE do Conselho, de 27 de Junho de [15] Assembleia da República. Decreto-Lei n.º 90/90 de 16 de Março, [16] Assembleia da República. Decreto-Lei n.º 122/93 de 16 de Abril, [17] Assembleia da República. Decreto-Lei n.º 544/99 de 13 Dezembro, art. 1º [18] Assembleia da República. Decreto-Lei n.º 198-A/2001 de 6 de Julho, [19] Government of the republic of Estonia. RT I 2004, 84, 572 de 23 de Novembro de [20] Alves, H. Mina de S. Domingos: Génese, Formação Social e Identidade Mineira. Mértola: Campo Arqueológico de Mértola [21] Kattai, V. Estonia Oil Shale Deposit, In: Geological Survey of Estonia. Eesti Põlevkivi. Tallinn, [22] Bauert, H., Kattai, V. The Mineral Resources of Estonia: Kukersite Oil Shale, In: Anne Põldvere & Heikki Bauert [eds.], Georesources and Public Policy: research management environment, Tallinn, [23] Sepp, K. Environmental Issues in Estonia. In: Environmental Problems and Management in Estonia. Eesti Maaülikool, Tartu, [24] Chanes, R. Deodendron: Árboles y arbustos de jardín en clima templado. Blume, Barcelona, ISSN: