H51G-0695:
Evaluating the Impact of Modern Copper Mining on Ecosystem Services in Southern Arizona
Friday, 19 December 2014
Kayla Virgone1, Mark L Brusseau1, Monica Ramirez-Andreotta2, Murielle Coeurdray3 and Franck Poupeau3, (1)University of Arizona, Soil, Water and Environmental Science Department, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States, (2)Northeastern University, Social Science Environmental Health Institute, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Boston, MA, United States, (3)University of Arizona, UMI iGLOBES, Joint International Research Unit, CNRS, Tucson, AZ, United States
Abstract:
Historic mining practices were conducted with little environmental forethought, and hence generated a legacy of environmental and human-health impacts. However, an awareness and understanding of the impacts of mining on ecosystem services has developed over the past few decades. Ecosystem services are defined as benefits that humans obtain from ecosystems, and upon which they are fundamentally dependent for their survival. Ecosystem services are divided into four categories including provisioning services (i.e., food, water, timber, and fiber); regulating services (i.e., climate, floods, disease, wastes, and water quality); supporting services (i.e., soil formation, photosynthesis, and nutrient cycling) and cultural services (i.e., recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual benefits) (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). Sustainable mining practices have been and are being developed in an effort to protect and preserve ecosystem services. This and related efforts constitute a new generation of “modern” mines, which are defined as those that are designed and permitted under contemporary environmental legislation. The objective of this study is to develop a framework to monitor and assess the impact of modern mining practices and sustainable mineral development on ecosystem services. Using the sustainability performance indicators from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) as a starting point, we develop a framework that is reflective of and adaptive to specific local conditions. Impacts on surface and groundwater water quality and quantity are anticipated to be of most importance to the southern Arizona region, which is struggling to meet urban and environmental water demands due to population growth and climate change. We seek to build a more comprehensive and effective assessment framework by incorporating socio-economic aspects via community engaged research, including economic valuations, community-initiated environmental monitoring, and environmental human-health education programs.
