M.Sc. / Coal mining is a mature industry and plays a vital part in the economy and development of South Africa. Coal mining however is a temporary use of land. Historically, when an ore body was exhausted, production ceased and mines were boarded up and abandoned. Today mine closure requires the return of land to a viable and sustainable post-mining land use but a number of challenges are associated with mine reclamation. One of the greatest challenges is the inability of mines in South Africa to return mined land to its pre-mining state or land capability. The minimization of loss of land use capability and equally soil resource is a key part in achieving success in mine reclamation. This study verifies and assesses the replaced soil depth and actual post-mining land capability at a surface coal mine in Mpumalanga province, according to the Chamber of Mines “Guidelines for the rehabilitation of mined land” (2007). Five of the seven reclaimed sites within the study area exceeded the planned land capability proportions determined during the pre-mining stage. A top soil balance done at the end of January 2010 however indicates that the available volume of soil resource at the mine will not suffice the amount needed to achieve the planned land capability in areas not yet reclaimed. It is suggested that the lack of an adequate soil monitoring and management strategy in the past, has led to the shortfall of the available soil resource at the mine. The soil monitoring and reconciliation strategy developed will hopefully assist mine managers and rehabilitation planners to prevent further soil loss at the mine.

Degree of Master of Forestry (Conservation Ecology) / Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliographic record. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the use of top-soiling, irrigation and translocating indigenous plants to facilitate the cost-effective return of a mined landscape to its former land-use (small stock farming) in an arid winter rainfall Succulent Karoo shrub land biome on the West Coast of South Africa. Effects of topsoil stockpiling and subsoil mineral concentration on soil fertility and chemistry were investigated, as soils are likely to determine rates of vegetation recovery on post-mined areas. Results of a radish bioassay show that stockpiling topsoil and mineral concentration subsoil decreased soil fertility. Mineral concentration decreased phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, carbon and nitrogen levels significantly relative to other soil treatments. Sodium in freshly deposited tailings was at potentially toxic levels and significantly higher than for all other soil treatments. Spreading of stockpiled topsoil over tailings may ameliorate harsh conditions created by mineral separation. Translocation of plants from pre-mined to post-mined areas was carried out on a trial basis in an effort to facilitate the return of natural vegetation and processes to strip-mined landscapes. Five local indigenous plant species: Asparagus spp., Ruschia versicolor, Othonna cylindrica, Lampranthus suavissimus and Zygophyllum morgsana were planted into multi-species clumps in a replicated experiment. Variables examined in the translocation trial included the effects of plant origin, soil treatment and/or irrigation on plant survival and establishment. The proportion of O. cylindrica transplants surviving for 15 months was greater than for other species. Whole plants survived better than salvaged plants, and Asparagus spp., R. versicolor, L. suavissimus and Z. morgsana survived better on stockpiled topsoil spread over tailings than on tailings alone. Irrigation had no consistent effect across species and treatment replicates. Salvaged-plant clumps were significantly larger than whole-plant clumps at planting, however, this effect was not observed after 12 months, indicating that whole-plant clumps grew faster than salvaged-plant clumps. The evergreen, leaf succulent shrubs O. cylindrica, L. suavissimus and R. versicolor appeared to be most suitable for large-scale translocation at Namakwa Sands. The return of biodiversity and changes in soil quality 15 months after translocation trials began were compared for combinations of top-soiling, irrigation, plant translocation and unmodified tailings. Irrigation may reduce biodiversity and seedling densities. Over a 15-month period following back filling and topsoil spreading, sodium, potassium and calcium appeared to return to levels observed for undisturbed soils. Magnesium remains at levels lower than in pre-mined soil conditions. Soil conditions may be more conducive to plant establishment and rehabilitation after back-filling of tailings and topsoil spreading. Electrical resistance increased over time indicating a reduction of free salts and salinity on rehabilitation sites. Phosphorus did not return to pre-disturbance levels, and carbon remained below pre-mining levels for at least 15 months after rehabilitation began, remaining a potential limiting factor in rehabilitation. Each rehabilitation technique that a mine employs has costs and benefits, and it is increasingly important that insights from ecology and economics are coupled if restoration efforts are going to succeed. A review of valuation systems indicates that Discounted Cash Flow Techniques (DCF) are suitable for valuation of rehabilitation operations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die gebruik van bogrond, besproeiing en die oorplanting van inheemse plante om die koste-effektiewe rehabilitasie van 'n stroopmynlandskap in die droë, winter reënval streek, Vetplant Karoo aan die Weskus van Suid-Afrika, wat vroeër gebruik is vir kleinvee boerdery, te bespoedig Die uitwerking van bogrondopberging en minerale konsentrasie op vrugbaarheid en chemise komposisie van grond is ondersoek, aangesien dié gronde gewoonlik die herstelspoed van plantegroei op 'n ou myn terein bepaal. Uitslae van radys proewe toon dat berging van bogrond en minerale konsentrasie van die onderliggende grond vrugbaarheid van grond laat afneem. Mynaktiwiteite en die minerale konsentrasie lei tot 'n betekenisvolle verlies aan fosfaat, kalium, kalsium, magnesium, koolstof en stikstof as die geval met ander bedrywighede. Die vlak van natrium in oorgeblywende sand na die minerale ekstraksie is hoogs giftig en is veel hoër as na ander bedrywighede. Die toediening van bogrond oor die oorblywende sand verbeter die toestand wat deur die skeiding van minerale veroorsaak is. Oorplasing van plante vanaf ongemynde na rehabilitasie gebiede is op proefbasis uitgevoer in 'n poging om die terugkeer van natuurlike plantegroei by die strookmyn te bespoedig. Vyf plaaslike inheemse plantspesies: Asparagus spp., Ruschia versicolor, Othonna cylindrical, Lampranthus suavissimus en Zygophyllum morgsana is in multi-spesie groepe geplant. Veranderlikes getoets tydens hierdie proef sluit in plantoorsprong, grond behandeling, en/of besproeiing, op die oorlewing en vestiging van plante. 'n Groter proporsie O. cylindrical as enige ander spesie het na 15 maande oorleef. Heel plante het beter oorleef as beskadigde plante. Asparagus spp., R. versicolor, L. suavissimus en Z. morgsana het beter oorleef op gebergde bogrond oor oorblywende sand as op oorblywende sand self. Besproeiing het nie 'n volgehoue uitwerking gehad op spesies of op herhaalde replisering nie. Beskadigde plantgroepe was groter as heelplant groepe toe hulle geplant is maar na 12 maande is opgemerk dat die heel-plante vinniger gegroei het. Die immergroen vetplante, 0. cylindrical, L. suavissimus en R. versicolor blyk die mees geskik vir grootskaalse oorplanting by Namakwa Sands. Herstel van biodiversiteit en veranderings in grondeienskappe 15 maande na proewe begin het, is vergelyk m.b.t. die toediening van bogrond, besproeiing, oorplanting en onbehandelde oorblywende sand. Besproeiing kan biodiversiteit en digtheid van saailinge verminder. Vyvtien maande na opvulling en die toediening van bogrond, het kalium, natrium en kalsium teruggekeer na vlakke in onversteurde grond. Magnesium vlakke was nog altyd laer as dié voordat mynaktiwiteite aangevang is. Terugplasing van sand en toediening van bogrond mag die vestiging en rehabilitasie van plante bespoedig. Weerstand vermeerder met tyd wat 'n verlaaging in vry soute en soutagtigheid in die grond wat gebruik is vir rehabilitasie aantoon. Fosfor het nie teruggekeer tot vlakke van voorheen nie en vlakke van koolstofhet na 15 maande verlaag gebly, en kan die potential tot rehabilitasie belemmer. Elke rehabilitasie tegniek wat die myn gebruik bring kostes sowel as voordele mee. Om restorasie pogings te laat slaag moet insigte vanaf ekologie en ekonomie saam ingespan word. 'n Oorsig van waardasie sisteme toon dat Afslag Kontant Vloei Tegnieke geskik is vir die evaluasie van rehabilitasie programme.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study, a cost benefit analysis was done to determine the best possible methods for postmining reclamation. A comparison was made between a conventional method with additional organic material added to the soil and a Backgrounding method where cattle are reared on the land. The best method, according to the financial model that was built, was the method of Backgrounding cattle on the rehabilitated land. The main reason for this outcome may be due to the fact that the meat that is produced is a high value product. It might not be practically applicable to mines at this stage, but the calculation provides an insight into the possibilities that reclaimed mine land holds for the agricultural industry.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Exxaro Namakwa Sands heavy mineral sands mine at Brand-se-Baai, on the west coast of South Africa, is an important source of income, development and job-creation in the region. However, this comes at a great environmental cost, as strip mining causes large scale destruction of ecosystems through the complete removal of vegetation and topsoil. This is particularly problematic in an environment, such as Namaqualand, where the arid and windy climate, as well as saline and nutrient-poor soils, hamper rehabilitation. These environmental constraints create the need to develop a site-specific rehabilitation program. At Namakwa Sands the objective of rehabilitation is to “rehabilitate and re-vegetate disturbed areas and establish a self-sustaining Strandveld vegetation cover in order to control dust generation, control wind and water erosion, as well as restore land capability. In general, vegetation will be rehabilitated to a minimum grazing standard capable of supporting small stock (sheep) grazing.” In order to achieve this Namakwa Sands conducted rehabilitation experiments with topsoil replacement, seeding of indigenous species and translocation of mature plants. Monitoring is an important part of the rehabilitation process as it allows rehabilitation practitioners to evaluate success and to adapt their management strategies and rehabilitation methods, as well as to evaluate and, if necessary, change their rehabilitation objectives. This study forms part of the monitoring process at Namakwa Sands. It assesses the success of sites that were experimentally rehabilitated in 2001 and a site that was rehabilitated in 2008, using current practice, in order to identify possible management requirements on rehabilitated sites as well as improvements on rehabilitation objectives, methods and monitoring. This study also tests the Landscape Function Analysis (LFA) as rehabilitation monitoring tool by correlating LFA indices with traditional measurements of biophysical variables or their surrogates. Results showed that experimental sites were not successful in returning vegetation cover and plant species richness to the required levels, but did achieve the grazing capacity objective. These sites will need adaptive management to achieve the vegetation cover and plant species richness objectives. The recently rehabilitated site achieved the three-year vegetation cover and plant species richness objectives, as well as the grazing capacity objective, within two years after rehabilitation. Namakwa Sands should therefore continue using the current rehabilitation method. However, rehabilitation should be done in multiple stages in future to decrease the mortality of nursery cuttings and to facilitate the return of late successional species to rehabilitated sites. The sustainability of small stock farming on rangeland with the grazing capacity that is identified as the minimum objective is questionable and this merits further investigation. LFA can be a useful tool to monitor nutrient cycling and soil stability at Namakwa Sands, provided that enough replicates are used. However, LFA cannot be used as is to assess water infiltration at Namakwa Sands, due to assumptions in the calculation of this index that do not hold for the Namaqualand environment. Landscape functioning should be monitored annually to complement vegetation surveys. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Exxaro Namakwa Sands swaarminerale-sandmyn by Brand-se-Baai, aan die weskus van Suid-Afrika, is ‘n belangrike bron van inkomste, ontwikkeling en werkskepping in die streek. Daar is egter negatiewe omgewingsimpakte aan verbonde, aangesien die strookmyntegniek grootskaalse vernietiging van ekosisteme veroorsaak deur die algehele verwydering van die plantegroei en bogrond. Dit is veral problematies in ‘n omgewing, soos Namakwaland, waar die droë en winderige klimaat, asook die souterige en voedingstof-arme grond, rehabilitasie belemmer. Hierdie beperkings wat deur die omgewing veroorsaak word skep die behoefte om ‘n rehabilitasieprogram te ontwikkel wat spesifiek is tot die terrein. Die doel van rehabilitasie by Namakwa Sands is om te rehabiliteer en herplant op versteurde gebiede en om selfonderhoudende Strandveld plantbedekking te vestig om sodoende stofgenerering te beheer, om wind- en watererosie te beheer, en om grondgebruik-vermoë te herstel. In die algemeen sal plantbedekking gerehabiliteer word tot ‘n minimum weidingskapasiteit wat kleinveeweiding (skaapweiding) kan onderhou. Om dit te bereik het Namakwa Sands rehabilitasie-eksperimente uitgevoer met terugplasing van bogrond, saai van inheemse spesies en oorplanting van volwasse inheemse plante. Monitering is ‘n belangrike deel van die rehabilitasieproses, aangesien dit rehabilitasie-praktisyns in staat stel om sukses te evalueer en om bestuurstrategieë en rehabilitasiemetodes aan te pas, sowel as om rehabilitasiedoelwitte te evalueer en, indien nodig, aan te pas. Hierdie studie vorm deel van die moniteringsproses by Namakwa Sands. Dit assesseer die sukses op persele wat eksperimenteel gerehabiliteer is in 2001 en ‘n perseel wat in 2008 gerehabiliteer is, volgens die huidige praktyk, om moontlike bestuursbehoeftes op gerehabiliteerde persele en verbeteringe aan rehabilitasiedoelwitte, -metodes en –monitering te identifiseer. Hierdie studie toets ook die geskiktheid van die Landscape Function Analysis (LFA) as ‘n rehabilitasie-moniteringsinstrument deur LFA-indekse met tradisionele metings van biofisiese veranderlikes of hul surrogate te korreleer. Resultate dui daarop dat eksperimentele persele nie suksesvol was om plantbedekking en plantspesies-rykdom tot die vereiste vlakke te herstel nie, maar wel die weidingskapasiteit-doelwit bereik het. Hierdie persele benodig aanpassingsbestuur om plantbedekking- en plantspesiesrykdom-doelwitte te bereik. Die perseel wat onlangs gerehabiliteer is, het binne twee jaar na rehabilitasie die drie-jaar plantbedekking- en plantspesiesrykdom-doelwitte, sowel as die weidingskapasiteitdoelwit bereik. Daarom moet Namakwa Sands voortgaan om die huidige rehabilitasiemetode te gebruik. Rehabilitasie moet egter in die toekoms in veelvoudige stadiums gedoen word om die mortaliteit van kwekery-steggies te verminder en om die terugkeer van laatsuksessionele spesies na gerehabiliteerde persele te fasiliteer. Die volhoubaarheid van kleinveeboerdery op weiveld met die minimum vereiste weidingskapasiteit word betwyfel en vereis verdere ondersoek. LFA kan ‘n bruikbare instrument wees om siklering van voedingstowwe en grondstabiliteit te monitor by Namakwa Sands indien genoeg repliserings gebruik word. LFA kan egter nie in die huidige vorm gebruik word om waterinfiltrasie by Namakwa Sands te assesseer nie, aangesien daar aannames in die berekening van die indeks is wat nie juis is in die Namakwaland omgewing nie. Landskapfunksionering behoort jaarliks gemoniteer te word om plantopnames aan te vul.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Remote sensing and vegetation indices were evaluated for its usefulness to monitor the success of the rehabilitation programme of the decommissioned tailings storage facility (TSF1) of the Navachab Gold Mine, Karibib, Namibia. The study aimed to objectively illustrate the rehabilitation progression from tailings (baseline) to soil (capping) and vegetation (planted as well as natural). Baseline data sets of 2004 and 2005 were compared with imagery of 2009, 2010 and 2011. All the images were subjected to panchromatic sharpening using the subtractive resolution merge (SRM) method before georegistration. As no recent accurate topographical maps were available of the study area, the May 2010 image was used as a reference image. All other images were georegistered to this image. A number of vegetation indices (VIs) were evaluated. The results showed that the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the transformed vegetation index (TVI) provided the most promising results. Although the difference vegetation index (DVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI) distinguished the vegetation, rock, and soil classes, it was not as successful as the other VIs in classifying the rain water pond. TVI and NDVI were further evaluated for their efficacy in detecting changes. This was done by generating a series of change images and by qualitatively comparing them to false colour images of the same period. Both the NDVI and TVI delivered good results, but it was found that the TVI is more successful when water is present in the images. The research concludes that change analyses based on the TVI is an effective method for monitoring mine rehabilitation programmes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Afstandswaarneming en plantegroei-indekse is ge-evalueer vir die gebruikswaarde daarvan om sukses van die rehabilitasieprogram vir die geslote slykdam of tailings storage facility (TSF1) van die Navachab Goudmyn, Karibib, Namibië vas te stel. Die studie se doelwit was om die progressie in die rehabilitasie van slyk (basislyn) na grond (dekmateriaal) en plantegroei (aangeplant en natuurlik) te illustreer. Basislyndatastelle 2004 en 2005 is vergelyk met 2009, 2010, en 2011 beelde. Al die beelde is panchromaties verskerp deur die subtractive resolution merge (RSM) metode voor georegistrasie uit te voer. Aangesien geen onlangse, akkurate topografiese kaarte van die studiegebied beskikbaar was nie, is die beeld vir Mei 2010 as ‘n verwysingsbeeld gebruik. Al die ander beelde is op die laasgenoemde beeld gegeoregistreer. Die resultate het gewys dat die normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) en die transformed vegetation index (TVI) die mees belowende resultate lewer. Al het die difference vegetation index (DVI) en enhanced vegetation index (EVI) goed onderskei tussen plantegroeiklasse en grond- en gesteentesklasse was dit nie so suksesvol met die klassifikasie van die reënwaterpoel nie. TVI en NDVI is verder geëvalueer vir effektiwiteit om verandering waar te neem. Dit is gedoen deur ‘n reeks van veranderingsbeelde te skep en dit dan kwalitatief met die valskleur-beelde vir dieselfde tydperk te vergelyk. Beide die NDVI en TVI het goeie resultate gelewer, maar die TVI was meer suksesvol om beelde met water te klassifiseer. Die navorsing lei tot die gevolgtrekking dat veranderingsanalises met die TVI ‘n effektiewe metode vir die monitoring van rehabilitasie programme is.

Thesis (LLD.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Access to land in South Africa has become a pressing concern and one that needs special attention. This is so despite the advent of democracy in 1994 which brought legislative frameworks and other measures promoting access to land. This study seeks to demonstrate the importance of accessibility of land to ensure realization of socio economic rights through productive use of land and consequently contribute to poverty alleviation and sustainable development in South Africa. The study examines adequacy of access to land and productive use of such land by evaluating the effectiveness of delivery of land reform program. The study emphasises that productive use of land should be strengthened in order to ensure acceleration of realization of sustainable socio-economic rights such as provision of food and better living conditions for land reform beneficiaries. The study further encourages the need to strengthen legislative measures and compliance in order to improve the delivery of post-settlement support services to land reform beneficiaries. The Legislation such as Restitution of Land Rights Act, Provision of Land and Assistance Act , Extension of Security tenure Act and Land Adjustment Act were promulgated and mainly aimed at addressing and regulating the allocation or distribution of land to persons or communities who were previously dispossessed of their land and further made provisions for instances where one or more persons claim ownership of land, but do not have registered title deeds in respect thereof, and to provide for incidental matters. There is a need for radical enforcement of laws, legislation, and regulations promoting access to land through restitution, redistribution and strengthening tenure reform in order to realize the delivery and enjoyment of socio-economic rights through productive use of land. This study reviews laws and regulations in an attempt to utilize land as a tool to alleviate poverty and accelerate sustainable development in South Africa, which will enable people to gain access to essential services particularly in rural areas. Therefore, there is a need to ensure that redistributed land is used productively to improve the lives of land reform beneficiaries

Thesis (MScAgric (Soil Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The purpose of this study was to investigate and identify the occurrence of specific soil properties that may be important for vegetation functioning and the possible effect of the loss of or changes in these properties on rehabilitation success on the sandy coastal plains of the West Coast, South Africa. The study area covered approximately 9 400 ha on the Namaqualand coast in the vicinity of Brand-se-Baai (31º18'S 17º54'E), approximately 350 km north of Cape Town and 70 km north-west of the nearest town, Lutzville. A soil survey was done to reveal the presence of important pedological features. The 20 soil profiles surveyed are situated within six vegetation communities. Pedological features such as surface water repellency, permeable apedal subsurface horizons, subsurface impediments such as cemented (calcrete or dorbank) hardpans and significantly more clayey (cutanic, luvic) horizons were identified. A comparative study between rehabilitated and natural soils indicates that mining operations result in the formation of saline sand tailings, stripped of a large portion of the clay and organic matter fraction. The natural leaching of solutes, over a period of 25 months, is sufficient to lower salinity of the tailings to levels comparable to natural soils. This leaching can also results in lowering of soil fertility. Removal of the dorbank and the dense neocutanic horizon in the western side of the mine, loss of topographical features such as small dune systems and heuweltjies, destruction of natural soil profile morphology and the lowering of organic carbon and clay plus silt fraction can have detrimental effects on attempts at rehabilitation of this area to a natural condition similar to that which preceded the mining operation. Infiltration fingering and deep percolation results in the development of an aquifer below the reach of shallow-rooted desert shrubs. A method of water acquisition by vegetation through water distillation is investigated as a possible solution to the apparent discontinuum between the shallow root systems and deeper-lying aquifer. Volumetric water content measurements indicated that precipitation of 29.5 mm, over a period of 10 days, did not result in any variation at 235 mm, 360 mm and 900 mm depths. An average volumetric water content increase of 0.4 mm per night was measured in the first 23.5 cm of soil surface. This amount is a significant source of water that can explain the shallow root distribution. Water vapour movement due to temperature gradients can explain the diurnal volumetric water content fluctuations observed. Further studies are necessary to determine to what extent the depth of water infiltration influences the capacity of subsurface dew to provide plants with a nocturnal water source. Findings of this study can be summarised into two concepts namely: • Heuweltjies, small dune systems, and variation in depth of cemented hardpans are the main features that contribute to pedosphere variation and possibly to biodiversity. • Pedogenic features such as topsoil hydrophobicity, and cemented dorbank and dense more clayey (cutanic, luvic) subsurface horizons are important components of a soil water distillation process that could be a driving force behind vegetation functioning in this region. Mine activities result in the loss of certain pedogenic features and soil properties that that could be key ingredients to ecosystem functioning. The inability to recognise their significance and ignorance thereof when planning rehabilitation methods might prevent sustainable restoration of the environment.

Thesis (MScConsEcol(Conservation Ecology and Entomology)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Anglo American Corporation’s Namakwa Sands heavy minerals mining and beneficiation operation has been strip-mining a heavy mineral deposit, rich in the commercially valuable minerals ilmenite, rutile and zircon, since September 1994. The mine is located in the vicinity of Brand-se-Baai on the west coast of South Africa, approximately 385 km north of Cape Town. Strip-mining causes total destruction of natural ecosystems through the removal of vegetation and soil in the area where mining is being undertaken. Namakwa Sands has been rehabilitating mined out areas as the mining front moves forward. Due to the difficulty of rehabilitating mined out areas as a result of harsh environmental factors, Namakwa Sands has initiated various research projects to gain an understanding of the baseline conditions and ecosystem function in order to increase plant cover and biodiversity on post-mined areas. This on-going research and the development of rehabilitation and mining techniques have resulted in the implementation of four rehabilitation techniques varying in investment of topsoil replacement, seeding and plant translocation. This study assesses the success and effectiveness of these techniques in terms of various vegetation and soil parameters. In addition, those parameters that are considered useful for monitoring are identified. This study indicated that topsoil replacement and plant translocation facilitate the return of similarity, species richness, species diversity and vegetation cover to post-mined areas. The rehabilitation site that had the greatest amount of biological input (topsoil replacement and plant translocation) appeared to be the most successful technique in facilitating vegetation recovery similar to reference sites. In comparison, the site that had the least amount of biological input performed the worst and requires adaptive management, e.g. reseeding and / or plant translocation. Namakwa Sands should continue to replace topsoil in all future rehabilitation efforts and, when possible (e.g. after sufficient winter rain), continue to translocate species in multi-species clumps. In terms of species selected for translocation, Othonna cylindrica, Ruschia versicolor and Lampranthus suavissimus should be considered for future large-scale translocation projects. Zygophyllum morgsana appears to be more difficult to re-establish under the current climatic conditions (below average rainfall). The long-term viability of rehabilitated Z. morgsana populations needs to be determined before considering this species for any future large-scale translocation purposes. No translocated Asparagus spp. individuals survived and should therefore not be considered for any further translocation purposes. The grass Ehrharta calycina, which is dominant in the site seeded, should continue to be considered for future seeding. Species and functional diversity appear to be the most limiting factors within all the rehabilitation sites and Namakwa Sands will not be able to meet their long-term objective of small-stock farming if diversity and the number of palatable species do not increase significantly. Adaptive management should seriously be considered in order to speed up this process. Alternatively, an appropriate grazing strategy, which is related to the Tetragonia fruticosa dominated vegetation within rehabilitation sites, would need to be determined and adopted.More time is needed to ameliorate the rehabilitated soil profiles to the same level as in reference sites, especially with regard to carbon, pH and sodium levels. In order to increase organic matter within rehabilitation areas, Namakwa Sands should consider creating clumps with cleared vegetation from the mining front. Since the long-term rehabilitation goal has not been achieved, Namakwa Sands will need to continue to monitor plant and soil changes until it has been achieved. The objectives of the current rehabilitation programme are limited and Namakwa Sands should develop additional objectives relating to the structure and function of the natural vegetation. This will give a better indication of whether rehabilitation sites are progressing towards the desired end point and if adaptive management is required. In addition, the current monitoring programme (vegetation survey) implemented at Namakwa Sands could be improved by increasing the vegetation parameters to be monitored. It is recommended that the following vegetation parameters be monitored as part of the long-term monitoring programme: species composition and similarity, species richness, species diversity, vegetation cover, species dominance, vertical structure and functional diversity of the vegetation (clumps and inter-clumps). It is also recommended that carbon, pH and sodium of soil profiles be monitored as part of the long-term monitoring programme. These parameters should not be seen as exhaustive as this study only considered various vegetation parameters and soil chemistry between rehabilitation and reference sites. The results of other studies on the fauna, mycorrhiza, insects, etc. should also be taken into consideration and the monitoring parameters expanded accordingly.

Reclamation on the Cardinal River and Gregg River coal mines includes the construction of mine pit lakes connected to stream environments. Key physical, chemical and biological parameters of these “truck and shovel” lakes and their streams were investigated, and hypotheses regarding ecosystems and populations were tested. Findings include: Sphinx Lake and Pit Lake CD exhibit meromictic (partial-mixing) tendencies, but still function in a similar fashion to shallower, natural sub-alpine lakes. Elevated selenium concentrations as high as 16 ug/g (dry weight) were recorded in Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs taken from gravid Sphinx Lake and Pit Lake CD fish. Potential detrimental effects associated with the bioaccumulation of selenium on fish reproduction were not observed. Stream water temperatures downstream of Sphinx Lake and Pit Lake CD were significantly warmer than in inlet streams and streams without pit lakes. Streambed concretions caused by calcite precipitation were documented and found to affect portions of the upper Gregg River basin. Remediation of this concretion is important for sustainability of trout populations. Aquatic communities including fish, invertebrates, zooplankton and aquatic plants are present in these pit lake systems. Athabasca Rainbow trout populations are self-propagating (spawning at the outlets) with higher densities downstream than there were prior to lake reclamation. The development of sub-alpine mine-pit lakes connected to the stream environment appears to be an appropriate and beneficial reclamation technique in this area. / xvi, 224 leaves : col. ill., map ; 28 cm

[Truncated abstract] The assessment of rehabilitation success is time consuming and costly for bauxite miners because large areas of land (~550 ha per year) are involved. In some cases, rehabilitation results in patches of bare or sparsely vegetated soil. This study uses remote sensing imagery to evaluate the growth of vegetation in rehabilitated bauxite mines in the Darling Range, W.A. This work has five aims, which are to (1) compare vegetation biomass within rehabilitated areas and nearby native forest; (2) analyse temporal changes in vegetation growth within the selected rehabilitated areas, in particular rehabilitated areas with patches of bare soil; (3) compare vegetation growth pre- and post- mining; (4) identify the best type of remotely sensed data for this particular study area, and (5) develop an index, which can classify the degree of vegetation patchiness within rehabilitated mine sites. This information will enable rehabilitation workers to identify patches in rehabilitated areas that may require further remediation. The study used RADARSAT, nine years of Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) maps (extracted from LANDSAT TM multivariate imagery and Quickbird imagery) and aerial photographs to evaluate forty-seven ~1 ha study sites. Image and map analyses were conducted mainly using ESRI’s software ArcGIS 8.3 and ER Mapper 6.4. Ground truthing was carried out to confirm and recognise the causes of bare patches within the rehabilitated mine sites ... The results indicate that differences in rehabilitation management do not affect this index but the extent of bare patches does. Due to the sensitivity of radar imagery to surface roughness, rehabilitated areas cannot be distinguished from the native forest using radar images. A building (crusher) appears to be the same as mature vegetation. Knowledge of the features in an area is therefore crucial when utilising RADARSAT. The beam elevation angle and profile of the RADARSAT image used, made superimposition of radar and optical imageries impossible. Speckle noise in RADARSAT images made it impossible to detect relatively small bare patches. In addition, the many cloud free days in Western Australia make optical imaging possible so that the ability of radar imagery to penetrate cloud is redundant for this type of study.