LIFE21-CCM-ES-LIFE CARBON2MINE

CARBON2MINE is a 72-month project that proposes an innovative solution to contribute to climate change mitigation, focusing on one of the most economically depressed regions in Europe: Asturian mining areas, directly affected by the decarbonisation policies of the European Union.

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our times, seriously threatening to the health planet, but also with relevant social and economic consequences. In this context, where urgent action is needed for a sustainable transition towards a climate neutral economy by 2050, CARBON2MINE will develop and implement new land and vegetation management models designed to optimise the carbon sink effect in mining areas, while also contributing to a cleaner energy production and circular economy through the following actions:

1. Restore mining areas through silvicultural models that maximise carbon fixation in order to improve (1) carbon storage and sequestration capacity, (2) biodiversity and (3) the supply of ecosystem services in this territory.

2. Implement the circular economy in the management of the territory through two types of actions: 1) to introduce the circular economy in the management of forests and grasslands and 2) to incorporate combustion ashes (residues) from nearby bioenergy production processes as fertilisers to forest plantations.

3. Decarbonise electricity generation, using forest biomass and studying new silvicultural models aimed at producing primary and secondary forest biomass.

4. Promote a new model of economic reactivation, based on the promotion of business activities framed within the forestry field with a remarkable capacity to generate employment, attract population and stimulate the local economy, particularly in rural areas.

Replication of the project’s model in other mining areas (not included during the project implementation period but committed after case study project results) are envisaged to maximise the project impact, ensuring long-term carbon storage