Project PID2023-147960OB-I00 SIMULATE
Warming simulation in metal mine tailings soils from semiarid areas: learning lessons to face climate change in polluted environments
Of National scope. With a Public character. It has been granted under a regime of Competitive.
Soil pollution is one of the major threats facing terrestrial ecosystems. Metal mine wastes from ore processing are among the most hazardous residues. These wastes are often deposited in open-air piles (mine tailings). Classic restoration approaches usually involve topsoil capping aiming to create a new soil above wastes and then afforestation. Despite this, millions of hectares worldwide are occupied by former abandoned, non-restored or deficiently restored, tailings. Classic restoration options have been questioned in semiarid regions due to ecosystem inability to be self-sustaining. An alternative, based on nature-based solutions principles, is to promote the growth of plants directly on mine wastes (phytomanagement by phytostabilization). This contributes to create the so-called fertility islands that may promote plant-soil feedback and ecosystem functioning. Choosing the most suitable management option should consider aspects such as the immediate risks posed by mine tailings (structural collapse, acid drainage), their location (near or far from populations), and the economic costs. Classical restoration actions should be prioritized when tailings entail an unacceptable risk. However, in other cases, phytomanagement may be a feasible option. Since restoration aims to minimize population risks but also to enhance future environmental quality, studies about the response of mine tailings towards global warming should be considered. In this sense, how functional an
