Building for nature
Mining can produce thousands of hectares new nature. All financed by selling sand, gravel, marl or clay. Several projects in the Netherlands show the results of miningcompanies and nature managment.
Bricks for nature
Clay coming from forelands is a valuable element for ceramic industry. It is made into bricks and clinkers. WWF-Netherlands and brick manufacturers like Wienerberger Bricks and Delgromij, agreed to extract more clay from forelands and stimulate house construction with bricks. By doing so, the use of bricks acquires an exceptional link to nature and safety. Building with bricks turns into building for nature! Municipalities and housing associations along rivers, can link their building schemes directly to water-retention, nature and recreation!
Sand and gravel
In Holland, the need of sand and gravel is huge. The resistance to sand and gravel extraction however, amounts to the same size. People link it to large, deep pits and lots of inconvenience. ARK is convinced that sand and gravel extraction can contribute to developing nature, just like clay extraction does. It calls for another working method though. One which takes the area’s destination as nature reserve, as a guideline. Generally, the destination of a gravel pit is contrived in retrospect (e.g. water recreation). ARK holds the opinion that above all things, proper extraction should be a means to reach another goal like nature development, recreation or water retention. By investing the proceeds of extraction directly into the surrounding areas, a well-balanced relationship between land and water originates. A sand or gravel pit reaches less depth and even turns into an enrichment of the landscape as opposed to an impoverishment. ARK supports projects and administers several areas adhering this working method. The project ‘Grensmaas’ is one of them.
Hidden valleys
Nature and marl mining seem to be each other's opposites. Marlpits are seen as 'scars in the landscape' that can't be hidden soon enough. Pits will have an obligatory finish and are hardly ever accessible. At best they will have a second life as a refuse tip. However, finishing the marlpits accounts for the loss of a great ecological wealth. With their steep limestone walls, seepage and shelter, non-finished marlpits harbour habitats and matching plants and animals that are rare in the Netherlands, such as the natterjack toad and the eagle owl. By research, advice, information and management, ARK is now working on how to deal differently with marlpits.
