Environmental & Socio-Economic Studies
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Environmental & Socio-economic Studies DOI: 10.1515/environ-2015-0042 Environ. Socio.-econ. Stud., 2014, 2,3: 47-55 © 2014 Copyright by University of Silesia ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Monetary assessment of natural values – a case study from the flooded mining pit in Suszec (Poland) Waldemar Szendera1, Karolina Czerwieńska2, Joanna Kuczera2 1Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute in Warsaw, Krucza Str.5/11d, 00-548 Warsaw, Poland 2Comfreylab Waldemar Szendera, Kolonia Podlesie 5, 43-267 Suszec, Poland E–mail address: (corresponding author) [email protected] ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT This paper presents a potential monetary assessment of natural habitats based on a method worked out in 2003 in the Czech Republic. The assessment was prepared for the reclaimed flooded mining pit in Suszec. The analysis was focused on three variants of real and potential habitats from the reclaimed land. Natural values of the flooded mining pit have undergone changes due to afforestation reclamation activities. It has been calculated that the value of natural habitats expressed in numbers will decrease by 70.7% in comparison to the area prior to reclamation, whereas the monetary value of the natural habitats will decrease by 10,319,519.00 PLN. An important element of the assessment includes recognition, diagnosis and evaluation of the actual state of natural habitats by preparing a detailed inventory and determining the most valuable species of plants and animals as well as landscape values. Unfortunately, at present in Poland there is no clear and explicit method of estimating the assessment of lost natural value that would allow approximating the monetary value of a given terrain and determine the most favourable direction of its management. Application of monetary assessment of natural habitats requires its adjustment to Polish conditions. Due to the similarity of climate and geomorphological conditions in Central Europe, it is possible to adopt elements of habitat assessments used in the Czech Republic and in Germany. Natural habitat assessment will provide a solid base for preventing conflicts caused by the needs of economic development at the expense of local protection of the natural environment. As a result, it will be easier to achieve an agreement between different parties in the investment process, and, moreover, the assessment method will prevent additional financial losses, generated during the process of achieving functionality by the habitats. Correct analysis of the values of natural habitats may significantly reduce losses in the natural environment and aid in the selection and choice of the most relevant reclamation method. KEY WORDS: assessment, natural habitats, reclamation, mining ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Introduction of such localities increases. Formerly degraded lands create new possibilities for the development The development of mining in Upper Silesia, of many plant and animal species, whose existence particularly of black coal mines, has caused was not possible in previous environments. irreversible changes in the natural environment. Mining companies and local authorities are thus Often, mining activity has been negatively addressed with a crucial question: should such perceived by the society, mainly as an activity developed land be subject to reclamation? And if so, with destructive influence on land surface, then should the reclamation be focused on causing its subsidence and dip, destroying the agriculture, forestry, municipal lands or water? soil layer, or polluting the nearby water courses. (OSTRĘGA & UBERMAN, 2010; KASZTELEWICZ & On the other hand, with time the post-mining SYPNIOWSKI, 2011). The aptness of the choice depressions begin to fill up with water and depends on many factors that characterize the become refugia for local populations of flora and degraded land: previous management method, fauna. The natural environment begins to recover natural factors, climatic conditions, character and and refurbish. The biodiversity and attractiveness quality of the surrounding land, hydrological 47 conditions, soil conditions, social and economic presents a method of assessing natural habitats factors, technical and economic factors, costs and based on the reclaimed flooded mining pit in Suszec. benefits, as well as technologies and ways of their implementation. However, ultimately it often 2. Study area happens that technical-economic factors have the largest influence on the range of reclamation The study was conducted on a reclaimed land works, instead of natural factors that do not with an area of 19.9 ha, located in the north- change with time (KASZTELEWICZ & SYPNIOWSKI, eastern part of the Suszec community, between 2011). In Poland there is no clear and explicit the Powstańców Śląskich and Na Grabówki streets, method of assessing lost natural value, which in Pszczyna County of the Silesian voivodeship. would allow determining the monetary value of The land belongs to the Krupiński Coal Mine and the reclaimed land, thus indicating the best direction has been purchased from private owners due to of its management. For example, incomplete mining impacts. The centre of the depression is assessment of natural land in Poland can be located in the valley of the Branicki Channel. presented for the value of natural parks, which is The terrain is assigned to category IV of mining calculated by using the quantity and price of 1 m³ damage (and to a smaller degree to categories III of wood. Thus, the Białowieża National Park with and II). The region is covered mainly by agricultural an area of 10,517 ha, wood supply of 4,287 land, objects of the technical infrastructure as thousand m³ and average wood price at 187 well as housings and office objects. Coal exploitation PLN/m³, has the value of only 7.62 PLN/m² has led to strong land deformations (MIŁKOWSKI, (PIERZCHAŁA, 2013). However, using the method 2010; CHMIELEWSKI, 2011). A 7.5 m deep depression proposed by Czech scientists, the value of the has caused changes in the directions of surface Białowieża Forest calculated with the use of water flow and resulted in the formation of a habitat assessment (code L8.1) is 66.87 PLN/m² flooding with and area of 3.8 ha and depth of 3 m. (SEJÁK ET AL., 2003). This value is closer to the real In June 2011 reclamation works have begun aiming costs of the natural forest ecosystem. It should be at the reconstruction of the degraded land by thus considered what is the natural value of the infilling the depression with waste rock (MIŁKOWSKI, land subject to reclamation and whether the 2010). The reclamation works continue till present. assessment method reflects the actual and real The area of the reclaimed flooding is outlined in costs sustained by the biogeosystem. This paper red in Fig. 1. Fig. 1. Sketch-map showing the area of the reclaimed flooded mining pit (source: WMS geoportal) 48 3. Material and methods coefficient indicate a more mature, natural, diversified habitat with a higher species diversity; The method for assessing natural habitats has such habitat occurs rarely, is more sensitive and been worked out in 2003 in the Czech Republic more susceptible. Habitats with the highest total and is applied during environmental decisions with points are very diverse and have a high stability. regard to naturally valuable lands (SEJÁK ET AL., The obtained point value has been multiplied 2003, AGENTURA OCHRANY PŘÍRODY A KRAJINY ČR). according to the formula below, resulting in the Understanding plant communities in the Czech monetary value of natural habitats. methodology (SEJÁK, ET AL., 2003) is slightly different than in phytosociology describe in Polish Monetary value = number of points × number of m2 × 0.4 € methodology (MATUSZKIEWICZ, 2007). In this publication, we have made the choice of plant A coefficient determined in the Czech Republic communities, which plant communities and plant for conditions prevailing in that area was accepted species are similar. The method can be applied in in this study. 1 point corresponds to the value 0.4 € Polish natural conditions. This is possible mainly (1 € equals to 4.16 PLN, data from 10.12.2014) due to the fact of similar climate, geomorphological (SEJÁK ET AL., 2003; TRZĄSKI & MANA, 2008; CHYTRÝ and habitat conditions in the two countries. ET AL., 2010, AGENTURA OCHRANY PŘÍRODY A KRAJINY Successful application of the assessment method ČR). Field studies leading to preparing a list of requires the preparation of a full list of natural plant habitats occurring in the area of the former habitats present in the region of the planned or flooding have been conducted since 1990. evaluated investment (TRZĄSKI & MANA, 2008). The assessment process comprises three stages 4. Results (SEJÁK ET AL., 2003; TRZĄSKI & MANA, 2008; CHYTRÝ ET AL., 2010): 1) recognition of natural habitats by In this study an attempt was made to determine preparation of detailed natural inventory with the best reclamation method in the study area. determination of the most precious qualities (species Monetary assessment was conducted for 3 variants and habitats protected by Polish and European of natural habitats: law); 2) determination of point value based on 1.