Mining in Ecologically Sensitive Landscapes

Many areas of unusual geology that contain ore bearing bodies also support unique ecological communities of plants and animals. Where we have increasing demand to exploit rich mineral deposits this can lead to a conflict between mining and conservation interests in such landscapes. The book of which the concept is based in the interface between geology and botany and mining and conservation, brings together experts in the field of mining and conservation.
The book focusses on natural and semi-natural ecosystems, where landscape beauty, biodiversity and conservation value are at their highest measure and the mineral wealth they contain can bring affluence of regional or even national importance. Examples of conflicts ranging from threatened floristic endemics to human ecology has been covered, with examples from Africa, the Americas, and Australasia.

Professor Mark Tibbett is a plant and soil scientist with over 25 years’ experience in research and teaching. He specialises in element cycling and plant–microbe–soil interactions with particular interest in soil microbial ecology, mycorrhiza and the rhizosphere. Having completed postdoctoral, academic and industry appointments in the UK, he spent 10 years in Australia at CSIRO Land & Water and as the director of the Centre for Land Rehabilitation at the University of Western Australia. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed scholarly articles, is the Co Editor-in-Chief of the international journalSoil Research and an associate editor of the Australian Journal of Botanyand Restoration Ecology. He was an instigator and remains a co-chair of the global ‘Mine Closure’ series of conferences. He is currently Professor of Soil Ecology at the University of Reading, UK.