PH26 Environmental Decision-Making Case Studies
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Thursday
(PH305) Implementation of a conceptual model for risk assessment in a Mediterranean Birds Special Protected Area.
Macedo-Sousa, J.1, Tarazona, J.2, Soares, A.1, 1 Department of Biology. University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal2 Department of Environment. INIA, Madrid, Spain
ABSTRACT- In order to protect the most rare and endangered bird species in Europe, Special Protected Areas (SPAs) were designated by Member States in accordance with the Birds Directive. These sites have specific management requirements and necessary restrictions on activities carried out within and around their borders according with the peculiarities of bird species. Therefore activities allowed in SPAs must not harm the values under protection. Risk assessment is a fundamental tool in setting the impact of chemical contamination on biota. A conceptual model for refining local risk assessments for sites with specific ecological values has been proposed. This work offers an example on the implementation of this conceptual model into an assessment protocol. Mining activities pose several environmental problems due to the chemical nature of their wastes, enriched in heavy metals. In the Iberian Peninsula, this industry has affected the surrounding environment and even in protected areas of conservation. This was the case of the disaster of Aznalcollar mine impacting the Doñana National Park. Herewith we have selected a hypothetical example, based on combination of real situations, assessing the ecological risk of a mining industry for two relevant bird species in the Mediterranean ecoregion; the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) and the Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus). The model takes place in a grassy steppe where the mud is separated from the liquid effluents and then buried in the adjacent soil that will be used for agricultural purposes and for supporting natural vegetation. The exposure scenario will include the quantification of relevant exposure routes and the adaptation of the effect assessment.∼
Key words: mining activities, EC Birds Directive, risk assessment, conceptual model