Land rehabilitation - Reclamation/rehabilitation
The course will teach the principles of rehabilitating the natural environment disturbed by any development such as surface mining, improper agricultural land management practices or any form of pollution. The objective is to reinstate appropriate land uses or agricultural potential. This course will teach people the interrelationships between environmental factors and their importance in rehabilitating or reclaiming the potential of a degraded or disturbed environment.
Learning outcomes:
This course will teach people the interrelationships between environmental factors and their importance in rehabilitating or reclaiming the potential of a degraded or disturbed environment.
Course content:
Day 1
Theme 1: Introduction (Overview of course)
Theme 2: Legislation and frame works (Overview)
-South African legal framework
-Key environmental legislation
-Legislation during rehabilitation planning and land use
-Environmental impact assessment
-Mine closure
Theme 3: Pre-mining assessment (Biophysical environment)
-Climate
-Geology
-Topography
-Soils
-Fauna and flora
-Air quality
-Land capability
Tea and refreshments
Theme 4: Land preparation and soil management (Pre-mining)
-Search and rescue operations
-Top soil balances
--Soil stripping
--Soil stockpiling
Lunch
Theme 5: Rehabilitation planning and design
-Predictive mine modelling by Adriaan Ooosthuizen
-Rehabilitation design of opencast spoils by Adriaan Ooosthuizen
-Elements of a reclamation plan
Theme 6: Land preparation and soil management (Post-mining)
-Land capability classes
-Top soil replacement
-Soil amelioration
Day 2
Recap
Theme 7: Revegetation
The reinstatement of
-Biodiversity
-Agricultural potential
--Grazing capacity
--Crop yields
Theme 8: Rehabilitation monitoring
-Vegetation parameters
-Soil parameters
-Other environmental parameters of importance
-Land capability classes
-Land use planning
-Reclamation success monitoring
Tea and refreshments
Theme 9: Addressing problem areas
-Evaluate specialised rehabilitation options
--Eroded areas
--Compacted areas
--Acidic areas
--Contaminated areas
Lunch
Theme 10: Maintenance and land management systems
The economic and overall importance of
-Fertilization
-Hay making
-Grazing
-Sustainable management systems
Theme 11: Adaptive land use management and mine closure planning
-Review mine closure plan
-Committed land use
-Current land use
-Evaluate alternative potential uses rehabilitated land
Day 3
Site visit : 9.00 - 12.00
Entry requirements:
Delegates must have relevant qualifications.
Time: 08:00 - 16:00
Venue: University of Pretoria, Main Campus, Pretoria
Cost: R7,500 (VAT incl.)