The Quang Ninh province in north-eastern Vietnam is home to opencast and belowground hard coal mining. To reduce environmental conflicts, the Vietnamese government decided that VINACOMIN has to recultivate waste rock dumps and find sustainable solutions for post-mining land use. From 2008 to 2011, the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ and the BioPlanta Corporation developed plant-based techniques for recultivation and mine water treatment on two waste rock dumps in Quang Ninh. VINACOMIN recultivated waste rock dumps by filling up top soil, planting fast-growing plant species and applying fertilizer. This mainly resulted in plant monocultures that require maintenance over several years. Planting species in mixed plantations instead of monocultures is beneficial for soil formation, reduces the risk of dump fires and pest infestations, and supports biodiversity. By planting a broad range of species, diverse options for post- mining land use was created.
