This paper proposes a systematic way to choose the best post-mining land uses, rather than treating reclamation as simply “put vegetation back.” The authors combine multiple criteria—economic, environmental, social and spatial constraints—with desirability functions and evolutionary optimization algorithms. The idea is to evaluate different possible land uses and combinations of land uses, score how desirable each is under the relevant constraints, and then search for the reclamation scheme that gives the best overall outcome.

They demonstrate the approach using the Amynteon lignite surface mine in Greece, where different portions of the disturbed area have different physical/spatial constraints and therefore aren’t equally suitable for every future use. The model can account for things like which land uses are permitted in particular areas while also incorporating the decision-maker’s priorities. The important takeaway for closure planning is that end land use can be treated as an optimization problem across the whole mine, rather than selecting one land use independently for each area or defaulting to ecological reclamation everywhere. It provides a framework for balancing competing objectives and constraints to arrive at a more defensible overall reclamation plan