ABSTRACT
The community of micro-organisms and nutrient cycling processes are upset by movement, storage, and redistribution of soil. Generally, soil disturbance and associated compaction result in conditions conducive to erosion. Soil removal from the area to be surface mined alters or destroys many natural soil characteristics, and may reduce its productivity for agriculture or biodiversity. Soil structure may be disturbed by pulverization or aggregate breakdown. A crucial policy issue in development concerns the need to balance actions which support continued economic growth with those that maintain or improve environmental quality, to achieve sustainable development. Thus, effective management of the environmental impacts of mining and other industrial activities is essential for sustainable development. This is probably true in all countries, at every stage of development, in all parts of the world. Vehicles for diffusion of innovations in these and other areas have included proposals for science and technology cooperation and provision of bilateral and multilateral technical assistance concerning development of new policies.
