Environmental pressures of current mining in Germany: a critical comment / Umweltbelastungen durch den aktiven Bergbau in Deutschland: eine kritische Betrachtung
Laboratory based laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instruments have proven themselves for trace element analysis of an extensive range of elements. As portable devices have evolved greatly in recent years, new areas of field-application are opening up. However, no portable LIBS (pLIBS) has yet been used for quantitative inorganic water analysis. The aim of this study was to explore whether pLIBS combined with a surface enhanced (SE) liquid to solid conversion (LSC) method can quantify light alkali element concentrations in standard solutions. Multivariate calibrations were performed with single element standard solutions at detection limits of 0.006, 0.011, and 0.007 mg/L for Li, Na, and K, respectively. Coefficients of determination (R2) for the calibration lines from 0.1 to 100 mg/l for Li and Na, and 0.1 to160 mg/L for K were between 0.96 and 0.99. It has been shown that the surface preparation technique used improves the homogeneity of the spread and shape of the evaporation residue and thus accuracy and precision of the analysis. Hence, this study demonstrates that it is possible to quantify light alkali metals in single element standard solutions in the range of 0.1 to 160 mg/L using handheld LIBS.
For the dust control of barren mine soils, protein and polysaccharide biopolymers have recently shown potential as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional dust suppressants (e.g., salt brines or petroleum-based products). However, laboratory studies that determine suitable application parameters are required for large-scale field trials. This study performed wind tunnel and pocket penetrometer tests to investigate the wind erosion and penetration resistance of treatments with different biopolymer types, concentrations (wt%), and application rates (L/m 2) on two mine soils. The results demonstrate that all treatments significantly enhanced the wind erosion resistance of both tested soil types, with the biopolymer type, concentration, and application rate having a significant effect. Depending on the biopolymer type and application parameter, the wind-induced soil loss ranged from 0.86 to 423.9 g/m 2 (Control = 2645.0 g/m 2) for medium-grained sand and from 0.3 to 225 g/m 2 (Control = 26,177.0 g/m 2) for fine-grained silica sand, with the soil loss reducing as concentrations increase, until it reached a plateau concentration. For a similar performance, the tested proteins (wheat and fava bean protein) must be applied at higher concentrations than those of the polysaccharides (xanthan gum, corn starch, and carboxymethylcellulose). Spearman rank correlation revealed a moderate-to-strong negative correlation between soil loss (g/m 2) and penetration resistance (N), rendering the pocket penetrometer a rapid, low-cost, and indirect method for evaluating potential dust suppressants. This research contributes to evaluating biopolymers as alternatives to traditional dust suppressants for controlling dust emissions on barren surfaces. Biopolymers are biodegradable and can be sourced regionally at a relatively low cost, reducing the environmental impact and expenses associated with dust suppression.
In this study, the effectiveness of biodegradable food processing by-products (chicory vinasses, corn steep liquor, decantation syrup, and palatinose molasses) as dust suppressants on mine soils has been precisely quantified using controlled laboratory experiments and field trials. Laboratory experiments using a wind tunnel indicate that rainfall intensity and repetitive wetting and drying cycles affect the by-products’ effectiveness. In addition, field trials conducted using soil plots at an open-pit lignite mine (Germany) demonstrate that the tested biomaterials can effectively reduce dust emissions under field conditions, despite the fact that rainfall led to the leaching of the applied biomaterials, decreasing the additives’ concentrations on the soil surface and impairing the materials’ effectiveness to suppress wind erosion. Thus, food processing by-products may be used for short-term dust mitigation at mine sites and represent environmentally benign alternatives to dust control chemicals detrimental to the environment.
Anticipated infrastructure growth and energy transition may exacerbate biodiversity loss through increased demand for mining products. This study uses an enhanced multiregional input-output database (REX, Resolved EXIOBASE) and supply chain impact mapping (SCIM) method to assess global biodiversity loss associated with mining-related land use. We identify hotspots in the supply chain of mining products, compare the impact of fossil and renewable electricity, and estimate the share of mining in total global impacts. We found that half of the global mining-related biodiversity loss occurs in Indonesia, Australia, and New Caledonia. Major international trade flows of embodied biodiversity loss involve Indonesia's coal exports to China and India, New Caledonia's nickel exports to Japan and Australia, and Australia's iron and bauxite exports to China. Key end-consumers include China's growing infrastructure and the EU's and USA's household consumption. Electricity generation accounted for 10% of global mining-related biodiversity loss in 2014. The impact of coal-fired electricity was 10 times higher than that of renewables per unit of electricity generated. Globally, mining contributes to less than 1% of the total land use-related biodiversity loss, which is dominated by agriculture. Our results provide transparency in sourcing more sustainable mining products and underline synergies in fostering renewables to meet local biodiversity and global climate targets.
German energy giant and coal mine operator RWE makes two products: cheap electricity and ‘pretty new landscapes’. These ‘pretty new landscapes’ are biodiversity offsets to compensate for the destruction of the ancient Hambacher Forest for the world’s largest opencast lignite coal mine in the German Rhineland. Drawing on in-depth fieldwork including participant observation and interviews in and around the mine and its offset sites, this paper explores the relationship between coal mining, spectacularisation of conservation, the ecotourism–extraction nexus and accumulation by restoration. I illustrate the historic and contemporary importance of restoration activities to the accumulation process and explore the recent engagement of mine operator RWE in the provision of restored nature (in the form of ‘eco-points’), which constitute new business opportunities. The significance of RWE’s biodiversity work for accumulation by restoration lies not only in its profit opportunities but its productive power: the legitimation of coal mining and the making of new, ordered ‘ecologies of repair’. This productive power operates through the mobilising function of RWE’s offsetting work, which forms the foundation for corporate partnerships and alliances with conservation groups and volunteers. These lend legitimacy to RWE’s ‘repair work’ and form the basis for the ecotourism–extraction nexus by turning the mine and its offsets into ‘extractive attractions’ for visitors and ‘nature lovers’. Its power further manifests in the way it captures imaginations through novel imaginaries and narratives of sustainable coal mining, supposedly creating not only a ‘better nature’ but a ‘better future’. Positioning offsetting as social technology of governance, I explore RWE’s spectacular performance of sustainability and the ontological flattening to facilitate claims of commensurability and ‘offsettability’ of nature. These are integral to the ecotourism–extraction nexus and grounded in the belief in the human/corporate ability to recreate nature, a fascination with huge earth-shifting machinery and a commitment to high-modernist ideologies of control.
1. Free-ranging domestic cats Felis catus, from owned pets to feral cats, impact biodiversity through predation, fear effects, competition, disease and hybridization. Scientific knowledge regarding these impacts has recently increased, making it timely to assess the role of nature conservation legislation in this connection. We do so with particular regard to the obligations of governments around the world under international wildlife law.
2. First, we provide an overview of current knowledge, based on a literature review, concerning the ways in which domestic cats impact wildlife; the resulting effects on native species' populations and ecosystems; and available strategies for addressing these issues. In light of this knowledge, using standard legal research methodology, we then identify and interpret relevant legal instruments, with a particular focus on international wildlife treaties. Lastly, we identify and assess factors that may influence the implementation of relevant obligations.
3. The outcomes of this analysis indicate that numerous legal obligations of relevance to free-ranging domestic cats already apply under global treaties such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on Migratory Species and World Heritage Convention, and a range of regional legal instruments for biodiversity conservation. Of particular significance are obligations concerning (a) invasive alien species; (b) protected areas and (c) protected species.
4. Many national authorities around the world are currently required, under international law, to adopt and implement policies aimed at preventing, reducing or eliminating the biodiversity impacts of free-ranging domestic cats, in particular by (a) removing feral and other unowned cats from the landscape to the greatest extent possible and (b) restricting the outdoor access of owned cats.
5. Factors that can influence or impair the application of these obligations include considerations of feasibility, scientific uncertainty, the interests of cat owners and the (perceived) interests of domestic cats themselves. Even if such factors may to some extent explain why many authorities have hitherto failed to take effective action to address the threats posed by free-ranging domestic cats, from a legal perspective these factors provide little ground for justifying non-compliance with international wildlife law.
The significant increase in metal mining and the inevitability of the continuation of this trend suggests that environmental pressures, as well as related impacts, have become an issue of global relevance. Yet the scale of the impact remains, to a large extent, unknown. This paper examines the mining sector’s demands on CO2 emissions, water use, as well as demands on land use focusing on four principal metals: iron, aluminium (i.e., bauxite ore), copper, and gold. These materials represent a large proportion of all metallic materials mined in terms of crude tonnage and economic value. This paper examines how the main providers of mining data, the United Nations, government sources of some main metal producing and consuming countries, the scientific literature, and company reports report environmental pressures in these three areas. The authors conclude that, in the global context, the pressure brought about by metal mining is relatively low. The data on this subject are still very limited and there are significant gaps in consistency on criteria such as boundary descriptions, input parameter definitions, and allocation method descriptions as well as a lack of commodity and/or site specific reporting of environmental data at a company level.
There are numerous reasons for the establishment of more wilderness areas. The issue is becoming more and more important worldwide, considering the increasing natural disruption. This also applies to densely populated countries like Germany. The National Strategy on Biological Diversity (NBS) sets goals for preserving and establishing more wilderness areas in Germany: 2% of the national land territory shall be designated to become large-scale wilderness areas and 5 % of the forested areas in Germany are to be preserved as permanently unused woodland (areas). There may be partial overlaps since large forest areas of unused woodland qualify for both wilderness targets.
The implementation of these wilderness objectives is achieved within the political framework through public administration activities, scientific work and communication.
As a result of these activities a definition for wilderness areas in Germany as well as quality criteria for large wilderness areas in Germany have been developed. Furthermore, the potential for large wilderness areas was identified on a surface-oriented basis. These potential areas cover approximately 3.5% of Germany's land territory and can be found in woodlands, watercourses, coastlines, peatlands and high mountain ranges as well as in former military training grounds or mining areas.
To support the wilderness targets, the Federal Government has made 156,000 hectares of federal land available as ‘National Natural Heritage’. To date, approximately 0.6% of the national land territory is protected as large-scale wilderness areas and approximately 1.9% of the forested area is designated to be permanently unused woodland; however, there is still a gap of 1.4% (large areas) and 3.1% (forests), to fulfill the targets of the NBS.
It is shown, that no starting point of the natural state can be defined for "wilderness areas". For a particular area to be classifiable as a wilderness area, natural processes without or with very slight human influence must be ensured.
Our analysis reveals that the goals for more wilderness areas in Germany are ambitious, but achievable. The first steps for their realization, like the establishment of specific goals, the development of specific strategies and programs by the federal states and the demonstration of a realistic potential for more wilderness areas in Germany have been taken. However, the road to reach these goals is still long, and in the following years there is a continual need for numerous concerted activities by the relevant stakeholders in the field of wilderness.
This book represents an important new contribution to the literature that presents practical and comprehensive solutions to mining activities. Its timely content has been prepared by several experts from around the world and its practical format addresses the major environmental predictive techniques required for the extraction and processing of metal resources. Packed with reviews and case studies, it covers current methods used to forecast environmental effects of metal mining.