Effects of mining on recipients and ecosystem resilience - MIR

Purpose and goal

The aim of MIR is to assess the effects of mining on recipients and ecosystem resilience towards recommendations for sustainable mining. The objectives are a) to detect potential broad scale effects of mining on water quality and to reveal for how long mining affects water quality and b) to understand the impact of mining on the occurrence and diversity of phytoplankton, macrophytes and macro-invertebrates and on the bioaccumulation of trace metals in biota.

Expected results and effects

Prior to increasing the mining activities in Sweden, an evaluation of the potential environmental impact of mining activities on recipients is necessary. MIR contributes with important knowledge to this evaluation, especially concerning effects of mining on biota.

Planned approach and implementation

MIR is a 3-yr project and divided into two workpackages. In a meta-analysis, data from the Environmental Monitoring Programme of lakes and rivers are evaluated in relation to mining activities. The databases are screened for watersheds with water quality data and that are affected and unaffected by mining, respectively. The meta-analysis is combined with a field study in selected watersheds. Water quality and the community structure of biological factors are studied in lakes and rivers applying a paired catchment approach. The factors are studied in lakes and brooks/rivers in watersheds that are (a) unaffected by mining and (b) adjacent watersheds affected by mining.