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(372) The Guadiamar Green Corridor: three years after the Aznalcollar mining accident. Vazquez, Eva1, Serrano, Javier1, 1 ABSTRACT- Three years after one of the most serious environmental accidents, the one that took place at Aznalcollar pyrite mines when one of the tailings pond walls collapsed causing a heavy metals containing spillage of six thousand million litres to the Guadiamar River, an impressive progress has been achieved in environmental restoration of the affected area. This accident became unwontedly famous throughout the world, not only for the seriousness of the mining accident, but also because the Guadiamar River constitutes an important waterway into the Donnana National Park, one of the most emblematic parks among the protected natural spaces in the world arena of conservation. During a first phase, a series of very important actions were carried out, such as sludge removal, soils remediation treatment based on neutralisation and immobilisation for controlling acidity and ensuring long-term stability and numerous control and follow-up measures concerning quality of waters, air, soils, sediment and living beings. All these actions have contributed to minimise the spill effects and have led to a significant environmental recuperation of the affected area. At present time Andalusian administration is working on developing the so-called "Guadiamar Green Corridor" which is an ambitious project aiming to restore the ecological functionality of the Guadiamar River and its watershed to create an ecological corridor between Sierra Morena range of mountains and Donnana coastline. Furthermore, the project intends to set up an alternative and sustainable development pattern, based on new economic activities and opportunities created by the Guadiamar Green Corridor Key words: acidic waters, heavy metals, ecological corridor |
