HEALING WOUNDED LANDSCAPES

摘要

Landscapes all over the world have become symbols of our thirst for the planet's natural resources. The year 2010 saw the greatest ever use of raw materials, and according to a 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, the exploitation of resources worldwide could triple by 2050. As the Australian mining sector grows, Australia's increasing population and cultural consumption will continue to affect communities and alter landscapes. It is vital that consideration is now given to Australia's mining legacy, not just from an environmental stance but also socially. This poses the question of how we deal with post-mined landscapes. Simply leaving a mess behind is no longer an option. In 2008, while working in mining exploration as a field technician, I travelled to remote landscapes around Australia in search of ore bodies and was introduced to my first operational mine. Its impact on the surrounding red sand and native arid vegetation that encapsulates the natural beauty and biodiversity of the South Australian outback left me hoping that our survey results would indicate no ore body was present.