1
25-027
Dual-Purpose Mine Land Rehabilitation: Integrating
Environmental Restoration and Sustainable Use for Tourism and
Agriculture in Cajamarca
M. Mendoza
Cajamarca, PE
F. Ysla
Cajamarca, PE
ABSTRACT
This proposal, based on the CIEMAN Cajamarca -
Hualgayoc initiative, focuses on “Transforming Abandoned
Mine Lands’’ We aim to study and assess the feasibility of
an innovative rehabilitation method. Contaminated soils
will be moved from the upper to the lower site, encapsu-
lated with geosynthetic barriers, and covered with topsoil.
The decontaminated upper area will be used for planting
trees and large-stemmed plants for hiking and tourism,
while the lower encapsulated area will support livestock
and short- stemmed crops. This study will evaluate the eco-
nomic viability and multi-use potential of this technique,
promoting sustainable land recovery in Cajamarca, Peru.
Keywords: Mining land rehabilitation, contaminated soil
encapsulation, environmental restoration, sustainable tour-
ism, livestock grazing, economic sustainability, mining
innovation.
INTRODUCTION
Abandoned mine lands in Peru, present a dual challenge:
environmental degradation and limited economic utility.
These sites, often left with contaminated soils and disrupted
ecosystems, require innovative solutions to recover their
value and function. Building on the CIEMAN Cajamarca-
Hualgayoc initiative, this study introduces a dual-purpose
rehabilitation strategy that aims to address both challenges
while promoting sustainable development.
As stated in the study “Mine land reclamation and res-
toration: Strategies and practices for sustainable land use”
(Barton et al., 2018), “Successful reclamation of mine lands
can provide economic opportunities through agriculture,
grazing, and ecotourism, while mitigating the negative
impacts on ecosystems and public health.” This type of res-
toration has the potential to transform degraded areas into
productive resources for society.
The proposal involves relocating contaminated soils
from higher elevations to a lower site, where they will be
encapsulated using geosynthetic barriers and covered with
topsoil. This encapsulated area will be repurposed for live-
stock grazing and the cultivation of typical short- stemmed
crops of the region, providing economic opportunities for
local communities. Meanwhile, the decontaminated upper
terrain will be restored and transformed into spaces suitable
for hiking trails and tourism activities, fostering economic
growth and environmental awareness.
This research focuses on evaluating the technical, envi-
ronmental, and economic feasibility of this approach. By
combining soil management with ecological restoration
and economic development, the project aspires to create a
replicable model for transforming abandoned mine lands
into sustainable resources for local communities.
METHODS
In this section, we will present the method adapted and cat-
egorized as “EVALUAR Methodology” for the specification
of the research project, focusing on “Dual- Purpose Mine
Land Rehabilitation.”
25-027
Dual-Purpose Mine Land Rehabilitation: Integrating
Environmental Restoration and Sustainable Use for Tourism and
Agriculture in Cajamarca
M. Mendoza
Cajamarca, PE
F. Ysla
Cajamarca, PE
ABSTRACT
This proposal, based on the CIEMAN Cajamarca -
Hualgayoc initiative, focuses on “Transforming Abandoned
Mine Lands’’ We aim to study and assess the feasibility of
an innovative rehabilitation method. Contaminated soils
will be moved from the upper to the lower site, encapsu-
lated with geosynthetic barriers, and covered with topsoil.
The decontaminated upper area will be used for planting
trees and large-stemmed plants for hiking and tourism,
while the lower encapsulated area will support livestock
and short- stemmed crops. This study will evaluate the eco-
nomic viability and multi-use potential of this technique,
promoting sustainable land recovery in Cajamarca, Peru.
Keywords: Mining land rehabilitation, contaminated soil
encapsulation, environmental restoration, sustainable tour-
ism, livestock grazing, economic sustainability, mining
innovation.
INTRODUCTION
Abandoned mine lands in Peru, present a dual challenge:
environmental degradation and limited economic utility.
These sites, often left with contaminated soils and disrupted
ecosystems, require innovative solutions to recover their
value and function. Building on the CIEMAN Cajamarca-
Hualgayoc initiative, this study introduces a dual-purpose
rehabilitation strategy that aims to address both challenges
while promoting sustainable development.
As stated in the study “Mine land reclamation and res-
toration: Strategies and practices for sustainable land use”
(Barton et al., 2018), “Successful reclamation of mine lands
can provide economic opportunities through agriculture,
grazing, and ecotourism, while mitigating the negative
impacts on ecosystems and public health.” This type of res-
toration has the potential to transform degraded areas into
productive resources for society.
The proposal involves relocating contaminated soils
from higher elevations to a lower site, where they will be
encapsulated using geosynthetic barriers and covered with
topsoil. This encapsulated area will be repurposed for live-
stock grazing and the cultivation of typical short- stemmed
crops of the region, providing economic opportunities for
local communities. Meanwhile, the decontaminated upper
terrain will be restored and transformed into spaces suitable
for hiking trails and tourism activities, fostering economic
growth and environmental awareness.
This research focuses on evaluating the technical, envi-
ronmental, and economic feasibility of this approach. By
combining soil management with ecological restoration
and economic development, the project aspires to create a
replicable model for transforming abandoned mine lands
into sustainable resources for local communities.
METHODS
In this section, we will present the method adapted and cat-
egorized as “EVALUAR Methodology” for the specification
of the research project, focusing on “Dual- Purpose Mine
Land Rehabilitation.”