Question

A strip mining company wants to lease some land that is currently part of a national park. they promise to reclaim the land should any minerals be mined from an area, and they are willing to pay top dollar for the rights. as an ecologist, what factors would you raise with the local government

Answer 1

As an ecologist I would bring to the table:
- Air pollution, sound pollution, water pollution, soil pollution.
- Destroying of the ecosystem
- Climate effects
- The process of recuperation of that land, that will take decades, lot of effort by the authorities, ecology organizations and locals, and will cost enormous amount of money.
- Health problems with the population in near proximity.