1. A flowchart for our proposal
Ecosystem dynamics and decision environment
Natural habitataround the quarry is affected by landscape dynamics.
Abandonment of forest management practices affects
The disappearance of rain fed
negatively the forest structure of the plantations P.
of,
agriculture leads to afforestation.
pinea; P. pinaster and P. radiata.
Afforestation reduces runoff, thus lowering stream water
discharge and even interrupting streamflow. Net loss of biodiversity linked to open habitat disapperance
Agricultural fauna and mostly ground nesting birds :
Miliaria calandra, Athene noctua, Alauda arvensis,
Natural temporal ponds disappear
Oryctolagus cuniculus, Tymon lepidus, Bufo calamita..
except on quarries.
The quarry activity involves modifications
of landscapes. New landscapes varies The quarry asecosystem services provider
from simple deforestation on preparation
works, to profound modifications of the
Quarry ponds become vistually the only
relief and soil disappearance. The biodiversity linked to temporal
suitable reproduction habitat for
ponds becomes quarry biodiversity.
natterjack toads (Bufo calamita).
The extraction phase of the
Barren soils, rocks and cliffs as new
quarry can last several When local streams dry up on mid habitats
decades. Time enough for summer, the ponds of the quarry
establishing ecosystem become the only source of water. Opportunities for rock and cliff
interchange with surrounding nesting species: B bubo,
ubo
habitats Monticola solitarius,..
Roe deer and other species visit the
quarry for watering
Pond formation on concavities
and pond construction as Quarry areas with natural soil becomes a
retention basins to prevent silt reserve on flowering herbs and shrubs,
transport by runoff. and its pollinator invertebrate fauna.
Presence of birds of preyButeo buteo,
(
Circaetus gallicus. Quarry as hunting
)
range.
Soils developed from granite are easily
excavated by rabbits. No human hunting
area + palatable herbs abundance + easy
den excavation = rabbit abundance.
Conventional decision environment Environmental consequences of prevailing dogmas
Restoration projects ignoring the
ecological interactions of the quarry Impact on Frequent erosion problems
Loss of quarry
habitat during the extraction phase. Natterjack toad on attempts to restore
habitats
populations vegetation on slopes over
15%
Aesthetic landscape management
restricted to mimicking the pre-
existing situation. Landscape visual Rabbit The camouflage landscape objective
treatment = camouflage? population rarely accomplished as it is difficult to
decline grow xenophile vegetation on
reconstructed hillsides, and so the
The recuperation of previous relief
cover of vegetation is much lower.
is the main objective.
Proposal for an integrated management approach
Restoration projects Why not to try
must be a consequence to "sculpture"
of the ecosystem stable natural
dynamics during the looking cliffs?
extraction phase.
Implement the biodiversity GIS analysis use to optimize
management plans during the useful extraction volume. Optimize
extraction phase taking into account quarry production on ecological
the ecosystem services that the quarry grounds is not a sin!
habitat provides to the surrounding
natural landscapes.