Chapter 13
Restoration of Dune Ecosystems Following
Mining in Madagascar and Namibia:
Contrasting Restoration Approaches
Adopted in Regions of High and Low
Human Population Density
Roy A. Lubke
13.1 Introduction
Two recent restoration studies are compared and contrasted. First, an assessment
of a site in southwestern Madagascar that has been proposed for heavy mineral
dune mining (CES 2006); and, second, an experimental study on desert dunes
following mining for diamonds on the southwestern region of Namibia (van der
Merwe 2005). The former study deals with pre-mining planning of future rehabilitation strategies in an area with a dense human population. The latter study, in
an area with a very sparse human population dedicated to mining, assesses various
rehabilitation techniques that had been attempted following mining.
Madagascar is very rich in flora and fauna and has become a center for studies
on endemism and unusual biota (IUCN 1987). This has attracted the attention of
many international conservation organisations, thus making it difficult for mining
companies to become established in the area. The Namib Desert region of Namibia
is equally as important as a conservation hotspot: the study area is within the
Succulent Karoo, which extends from the southwestern corner of Namibia, along
the Western Cape, and into the southern Cape (Fig. 13.1) (van Wyk and Smith
2001). The Orange River mouth region, on the border of Namibia and South
Africa, has been mined for diamonds for many decades and mining commenced
long before its conservation importance had been realized.
The Namibian and Madagascan study areas, although both in arid dune regions,
are very different in terms of their physical, biological, and social environments.
Different approaches are therefore required to planning restoration of the sites
following mining. The aim of this chapter is to examine the following aspects:
R. A. Lubke (&)
Department of Botany, Rhodes University, and Coastal & Environmental Services,
Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
e-mail: r.lubke@ru.ac.za
M. L. Martínez et al. (eds.), Restoration of Coastal Dunes, Springer Series
on Environmental Management, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-33445-0_13,
Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
199
Restoration of Dune Ecosystems Following
Mining in Madagascar and Namibia:
Contrasting Restoration Approaches
Adopted in Regions of High and Low
Human Population Density
Roy A. Lubke
13.1 Introduction
Two recent restoration studies are compared and contrasted. First, an assessment
of a site in southwestern Madagascar that has been proposed for heavy mineral
dune mining (CES 2006); and, second, an experimental study on desert dunes
following mining for diamonds on the southwestern region of Namibia (van der
Merwe 2005). The former study deals with pre-mining planning of future rehabilitation strategies in an area with a dense human population. The latter study, in
an area with a very sparse human population dedicated to mining, assesses various
rehabilitation techniques that had been attempted following mining.
Madagascar is very rich in flora and fauna and has become a center for studies
on endemism and unusual biota (IUCN 1987). This has attracted the attention of
many international conservation organisations, thus making it difficult for mining
companies to become established in the area. The Namib Desert region of Namibia
is equally as important as a conservation hotspot: the study area is within the
Succulent Karoo, which extends from the southwestern corner of Namibia, along
the Western Cape, and into the southern Cape (Fig. 13.1) (van Wyk and Smith
2001). The Orange River mouth region, on the border of Namibia and South
Africa, has been mined for diamonds for many decades and mining commenced
long before its conservation importance had been realized.
The Namibian and Madagascan study areas, although both in arid dune regions,
are very different in terms of their physical, biological, and social environments.
Different approaches are therefore required to planning restoration of the sites
following mining. The aim of this chapter is to examine the following aspects:
R. A. Lubke (&)
Department of Botany, Rhodes University, and Coastal & Environmental Services,
Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
e-mail: r.lubke@ru.ac.za
M. L. Martínez et al. (eds.), Restoration of Coastal Dunes, Springer Series
on Environmental Management, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-33445-0_13,
Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
199