What is the problem/issue being addressed?
The CESMINE project (Cultural Ecosystem Services of post-mining sites: socio-economic rehabilitation after quarrying) addresses the challenge of socio-economic and environmental rehabilitation of post-mining sites, with a particular focus on the role of cultural ecosystem services (CES). Specifically, CESMINE investigates small to medium-scale mining operations involved in the extraction of industrial minerals and construction materials—such as natural stone, sand, gravel, limestone, and salt—commonly known as quarrying. Post-mining sites, often perceived as industrial scars, require careful planning and management to restore both their ecological functions and their significance to local communities. The issue lies in finding effective ways to reconnect communities with these transformed landscapes and ensuring that the sites deliver tangible social, cultural, and ecological benefits.
Why is it important for society?
Mining and quarrying remain of great economic importance for the European Union. Sensitive ecosystems associated with cultural and community values are being reshaped by irreversible landscape changes. These values, along with the complex interactions between people and ecosystems, foster place attachment, strengthen community cohesion, and are essential for human health and well-being. Integrating these cultural ecosystem services (CES) into mine rehabilitation efforts is key to achieving meaningful socio-ecological recovery in post-mining regions. Rehabilitating post-mining sites is also critical for advancing sustainable development, particularly in areas heavily impacted by resource extraction. As urbanization accelerates and the demand for construction materials grows, quarrying will remain essential. However, its environmental and social impacts must be carefully managed. Successful rehabilitation not only restores ecological balance but also nurtures new social and cultural connections between communities and transformed landscapes. This contributes to broader objectives, including regional development, biodiversity conservation, and overall social well-being. Moreover, involving local communities in the restoration process can enhance public acceptance of mining activities, facilitating smoother transitions for future land-use projects in similar regions.
What are the overall objectives?
The CESMINE project aimed to explore how former quarry sites can be rehabilitated into valuable socio-ecological systems. Focusing on sites in Denmark, Germany, and the Czech Republic, the project investigated the role of cultural ecosystem services (CES) in fostering positive community relationships to the rehabilitated land. The objectives were:
(1) Understand how communities engage with post-mining sites by analyzing the popularity of these sites through crowdsourced data, including online photographs.
(2) Examine the connections between the popularity of these sites and the cultural ecosystem services they provide, such as recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual values.
(3) Explore local perceptions and current uses of post-mining sites, mapping how these sites are used and perceived by different stakeholders and identifying the relationship between rehabilitation efforts and CES.
(4) Develop practical measures for the quarrying industry to support more effective socio-economic rehabilitation, ensuring that mining companies play a proactive role in transforming these sites into socially valuable spaces.
Conclusions of the Action
The project successfully met its objectives, contributing to both academic research and practical approaches to quarry rehabilitation. By linking social perceptions with ecological restoration, CESMINE demonstrated that post-mining sites can be transformed into vibrant socio-ecological systems that benefit both local communities and the broader environment. The project also provided actionable recommendations for industry partners and regulators.
