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• Agro-Genetic Engineering
• Post-Mining Landscapes
  • Nature Conservation and Rehabilitation of Opencast Lignite Mines
  • Sustainable Recreation
  • Safeguarding Post-Mining Landscapes
    • Post-Mining Landscapes Network
• Biodiversity
• CITES
• Protected Areas
• International nature conservation
• Natura 2000

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Preserving and Safeguarding Nature Conservation Areas in Post-Mining Landscapes

When rehabilitating mining sites in the coalfields in the Lausitz and central regions of Germany, the plans drawn up by the state (Länder) authorities designated between 10 and 15 percent of the sites for nature conservation. When the sites were announced for sale by Lausitzer- und Mitteldeutschen Bergbau-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH (the Lausitz and Central-German Mining Administration Company or  LMBV), it became increasing important to identify how the sites of nature conservation value could be saved for the longer term and sustainably developed.

One option involves designating protected areas under Länder-specific nature conservation law and/or transferring the land to Länder ownership. Experience gained in recent years has shown that the rehabilitation process accelerates as soon as a site has been designated as a protected area.

Another option involves site acquisition by nature conservation organisations. These can be nature conservation associations, foundations and other interest groups – but they could just as easily be local authorities and private individuals.

Published in 2002, the research and development project "Erhaltung und Sicherung von Naturschutzflächen in Bergbaufolgelandschaften - Handbuch zum Flächenerwerb und -management im Lausitzer und Mitteldeutschen Braunkohlerevier"(Preserving and Safeguarding Nature Conservation Areas in Post-Mining Landscapes: Guide to Site Acquisition and Management in the Lignite Mining Districts of the Lausitz and Central Regions of Germany) provides best-practice models on how sites can be transferred to interested nature conservation bodies. Rather than actual site acquisition, the guide’s main focus is on strategy development and clarification of unresolved issues. Using case studies from the Lower Lausitz mining district, the research findings were presented so as to allow transfer to other mining regions and to assist those interested in acquiring the sites in the phases prior to, during and following acquisition. This was supplemented with the creation of the  "Post-Mining Landscapes Network" to provide interested parties with a platform for exchange.