The legacy of abandoned mines and their associated environmental problems has led to an increased emphasis on mine closure planning in recent years. In many countries planning for closure is a relatively new concept and rapidly changing economic conditions can lead to preparations for, or the carrying out of, mine closure before adequate planning has taken place. A good understanding of the technical issues relating to land degradation caused by mining, the environmental impacts and the restoration objectives and options that need to be considered is vital to allow realistic, site-specific, environmental management plans to be drawn up and implemented effectively.
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