The impact of abandoned/disused marble quarries on avifauna in the anticline of Estremoz, Portugal: does quarrying add to landscape biodiversity?

Although the extractive operations of quarrying are often considered environmental threats, there is some evidence that abandoned quarries may have a significant positive impact on biodiversity by enhancing habitat quality for several species. In Estremoz Anticlinal, SE Portugal, many of the existing marble quarries have been inactive for decades and were abandoned without any restoration project in progress. The impact of quarry abandonment on avifauna diversity was assessed relative to reference conditions using adjacent rural fields as control areas. No significant differences were found in within-community diversity (alpha diversity) between abandoned quarries and reference sites. However, several dissimilarity indices showed a clear divergence in species composition between abandoned quarries and reference sites. Furthermore, statistically significant differences in species compositions were found between quarries abandoned for different periods. Over time, species composition becomes more similar to that observed in reference sites, reflecting ecological succession and landscape resilience to quarrying. Nevertheless, the studied quarrying landscape exhibited higher gamma and beta diversity than the former traditional landscape; thus, our results suggest that abandoned quarries, rather than damaging and destroying niches, can promote new ecological niches and significantly diversify rural landscapes.

The impact of abandoned/disused marble quarries on avifauna in the anticline of Estremoz, Portugal: does quarrying add to landscape biodiversity?

Although the extractive operations of quarrying are often considered environmental threats, there is some evidence that abandoned quarries may have a significant positive impact on biodiversity by enhancing habitat quality for several species. In Estremoz Anticlinal, SE Portugal, many of the existing marble quarries have been inactive for decades and were abandoned without any restoration project in progress. The impact of quarry abandonment on avifauna diversity was assessed relative to reference conditions using adjacent rural fields as control areas. No significant differences were found in within-community diversity (alpha diversity) between abandoned quarries and reference sites. However, several dissimilarity indices showed a clear divergence in species composition between abandoned quarries and reference sites. Furthermore, statistically significant differences in species compositions were found between quarries abandoned for different periods. Over time, species composition becomes more similar to that observed in reference sites, reflecting ecological succession and landscape resilience to quarrying. Nevertheless, the studied quarrying landscape exhibited higher gamma and beta diversity than the former traditional landscape; thus, our results suggest that abandoned quarries, rather than damaging and destroying niches, can promote new ecological niches and significantly diversify rural landscapes.

Les carrières de grès calcaire tyrrhénien à Korba et ses environs (Cap Bon, Tunisie): pour une meilleure connaissance et valorisation des atouts patrimoniaux, paysagers et environnementaux

(Introdução): Après une formation en architecture, la participation au Master TPTI a été une occasion précieuse pour acquérir de nouvelles connaissances, théoriques et pratiques, en rapport avec l'histoire, le patrimoine et l’environnement dans son sens le plus large. Ces dimensions ont souvent été d’un grand apport pour bien des oeuvres et interventions architecturales et leur ont permis de convaincre et de s’imposer au temps. Elles occupent également une place devenue de plus en plus importante dans la réflexion sur bien des sujets dont la gestion territoriale et l’exploitation des ressources naturelles. Leur considération favorise des approches intégrées et est même indispensable pour toute oeuvre ou intervention visant la durabilité. Elle est, en tout cas, indispensable pour l’étude d’un thème comme celui des friches liées à l’exploitation des ressources naturelles, que nous tentons d’aborder dans ce mémoire à travers le cas des carrières de grès-calcaire des environs de la ville de Korba, en Tunisie. En effet, par ses enseignements variées et pluridisciplinaires, le Master TPTI, nous a offert une ouverture sur l'histoire et l'anthropologie des techniques ainsi que la conservation, la gestion et la valorisation du patrimoine industriel, historique et culturel. En plus des séminaires et des contacts directs avec des professionnels de différents domaines et pays, une place importante a été accordée aux visites de terrains. A tout cela s'ajoute une mobilité de spécialité, qui dans notre cas, a eu lieu au Département d'Economie à l'Université d'Alicante. Le premier volet de ce mémoire sera consacré au projet personnel qui traite, comme évoqué plus haut, des carrières de Korba et ses environs. Il est le fruit d'un travail au cours duquel nous avons essayé, sur les deux années du Master, de tirer profit des différents enseignements dispensés afin d’enrichir notre réflexion sur le thème.

Formulação de betão autocompactável com resíduos de pedreiras do Alentejo: Aproveitamento de resíduos no fabrico do betão

Os betões autocompactáveis (BAC) são betões que se definem pela capacidade de fluir no interior das cofragens, preenchendo-as e envolvendo as armaduras só por acção do seu próprio peso, sem bloqueio dos agregados e mantendo-se homogéneo em todo o seu volume. As adições activas do tipo II nomeadamente as cinzas volantes, utilizadas na fabricação do BAC irão escassear no futuro pelo facto de provirem da queima do carvão da qual resulta uma quantidade elevada de C02. Para minimizar estas emissões, o carvão começa a ser substituído por gás natural. Mas, como o BAC necessita duma grande quantidade de finos, há necessidade de encontrar outros subprodutos que a substituam. Tendo em conta o que atrás se afirma introduziram-se na fabricação do BAC resíduos de pedreira do Alentejo, identificaram-se as suas características no estado fresco e no estado endurecido. Este estudo teve também em conta o factor económico da sua produção. /ABSTRACT: Self-Compacting (SCC) is concrete which may be defined by the ability to flow inside the formwork, filling them and involving the reinforcements only by action of its own weight, without blocking and maintaining uniformity throughout its volume. Type II additions, as fly ash, are used in the manufacture of SCC. The supply of fly ash in the future will be difficult because they come from the burning of coal resulting in a high amount of C02. To minimize these emissions, coal is being replaced by natural gas. But, as the BAC requires a large amount of fine materials, the formulation of SCC requires other fine products. Having this in mind, the use of waste from Alentejo quarries in concrete was tested. The characteristics of SCC with waste material were identified in fresh and hardened state. This study also took into account the economic factor of production.

Integração e recuperação paisagística em pedreiras

Esta dissertação, elaborada no âmbito da obtenção do grau de mestre em Arquitetura Paisagista, tem como tema a “Integração e Recuperação Paisagística em Pedreiras”, a qual foi desenvolvida com base no trabalho de investigação desenvolvido, enquanto colaborador no Centro Tecnológico da Pedra Natural de Portugal (CEVALOR) localizado em Borba, desde o ano 2000, até à atualidade. A recuperação de pedreiras pode ser caracterizada, como um processo de intervenção local, inserido no âmbito da gestão visual, da conservação e de valorização da paisagem. Para realizar o processo de recuperação, não só é necessário o correto enquadramento legal, como entender o contexto paisagístico, que permite avaliar os impactes visuais potenciais e propor medidas de mitigação adequadas. O conteúdo metodológico desta dissertação apresenta a análise, interpretação e caracterização estrutural da paisagem assim como da avaliação do impacte visual, assim como as opções de recuperação com vista à sua integração das pedreiras na paisagem; Abstract: Integration and landscape reclamation in quarries This dissertation concerning the theme “landscape integration and rehabilitation of quarries” aims to obtain the master degree in landscape architecture, as the result of my research as a collaborator at CEVALOR since the year of 2000. The integration and rehabilitation of quarries can be described has a process of local intervention within the fields of visual management, conservation and amelioration of the landscape. In order to accomplish the rehabilitation process, not only is necessary to consider all legal obligations but understand the landscape context, through the analysis of the visual quality and the assessment of the visual impacts in order to propose the most adequate mitigation measures. This dissertation presents a methodological approach that describes the process of landscape analysis, landscape visual impact assessment and the feasible rehabilitation options regarding the visual integration of quarries in the landscape.