Author(s)

O. Correia, A.S. Clemente, A.I. Correia, C. Máguas, M. Carolino, A.C. Afonso & M.A. Martins-Loução

Abstract

Quarry rehabilitation: a case study O. Correia, A. S. Clernente, A. L Correia, C. Maguas, M. Caroline A. C. Afonso & M.A. Martins-Lougao Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Faculdade de Ciencias da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal. Abstract Quarrying activities such as limestone extraction entail significant visual impacts and degradation problems as a result of soil depletion and deep alteration to the original topography. These areas are at high risk of erosion due to removal of vegetation and the lack of available soil on steep slopes. In addition, the common method of quarry exploitation in platforms increases drainage and the physical and chemical erosion of the substrate, hindering natural germination and establishment of young plants, and thus delaying recolonisation. In the past, quarries were simply abandoned after extraction. However, natural colonisation of disused limestone quarries is slow. The time scales involved in the creation of new commu

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