post-mining-ecosystems

 

The European Heavy Metal Ecology Network (EHMEN) is made up of a large group of professionals from science, management and governments across Europe. Their focus is on research and management of sites with heavy metal ecology. EHMEN tries to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing between science and management with the ultimate goal of conserving post-mining sites. The first 2-day international conference was held in January 2006 in Kelmis, Belgium, followed by a 3-day fieldtrip in April of the same year. A second fieldtrip and meeting took place in June 2007 in Mansfelt and the Harz in Germany; co-organised with AG Bergbaufolgelandschaften. In April 2008 participants contributed to the BES ‘International Conference on Industrial Pollution’ and the post-conference fieldtrip in the UK. Most recently a 3-day international fieldtrip to sites in Belgium and Germany took place in May 2008.
 
Science lacks coherent insight into the exact measures for restoration of metallophyte communities. Research into the geographic distribution, ecological amplitude and niche differentiation of metallophytes, and the impact of ecological management and habitat alteration on metallophyte vegetation, is necessary to facilitate conservation and to develop and manage sites in the future. The European Heavy Metal Ecology Network aims at supporting such research in the international context. Our scope is to facilitate a transition between research-science and site management - conservation of sites.
Participants in the network are from a multitude of universities, institutes, nature trusts, agencies and governments from Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, England, France, Austria and Slovakia.

The main aims of EHMEN are:
 
# Creating awareness on the decline of heavy metal vegetations in the international context

# Interaction and synergy between researchers creating a broad platform for new research opportunities;

# Sharing knowledge and experience between researchers and site managers;

# Increasing the multi-disciplinary knowledge of participants on the subject by presentations from various ‘angles’ and subjects;

# Increasing bonds and collaboration between experts and organizations dealing with heavy metal vegetations.
 
We try to achieve these aims by:

- Supporting communication among researchers working on (related) subjects and communication among nature managers and with researchers of the diverse institutes/universities;

- Homepage for public information and as forum for experts; linking with other homepages of diverse organisations. On this homepage research material is published, a database with information on sites and subjects is compiled and the homepage is used as main portal for the Network;

- Organizing an international congress once a year and more often smaller briefings;

- Organizing a multiple day international excursion to several sites once a year, and more often other smaller field visits.