Development of a standard model for quarry rehabilitation enabling their integration into the natural environment: Case study

The objective of this study is to design a standard model for quarry rehabilitation after and during operation, thus contributing to their integration into their natural environments.To this end, an in-depth geomatic analysis and a multi-criteria approach were adopted to propose this model.This methodology was based on the development of various thematic maps (geological, topographic, hydrological, and topographic) to characterize the site.The study focused on mining outcrops with dolomite, limestone, and sandstone facies, located in the Taghramt municipality, in the Fahs Anjra province of Morocco.In this country, quarry rehabilitation practices are not fully consistent with the principles of environmental protection and sustainable development.Following this study, the results obtained reveal that this standard quarry rehabilitation model includes progressive redevelopment stages.Thus, it is necessary to first redevelop the embankments, then reconstruct the soil, and finally reforest the site.The desired goal is to integrate the quarries into their natural environment, thereby protecting the environment from the risks posed by the lack of quarry rehabilitation (passenger falls, disturbance of flora and fauna, soil depletion, and alteration of the hydrographic network, landscape, and air quality).However, the main limitations of this approach concern the need for rehabilitation planning right from the operational phase; and the shortcomings in the Moroccan legal framework, despite its recent progress with the adoption of Law 27-13 of 9/6/2015 on quarries and its implementing decree No. 2-17-369 of 30/11/2017, which requires the presentation of a bank guarantee to guarantee the quarry's redevelopment.The originality of this study lies in the integration of geomatic and ecological tools, to design a practical, reproducible and flexible model for the institutionalization of a quarry rehabilitation procedure adaptable to other open-air quarries and to various geo-environmental contexts.