The BIONEER Project: Reviving Mining Waste Areas Through Cyanobacterial Bioengineering

Mining activities have long-lasting consequences for the environment, leaving behind scarred landscapes and contaminated soil. Even after the mine closes, its impact persists, affecting air, soil and waterquality in the surrounding area. In Finland, over 50 abandoned mining waste sites remain largely unattended, posing serious environmental risks. The BIONEER project, funded by the Kone Foundation, aims to rehabilitate post-mining landscapes with the help of cyanobacterial bioengineering.

The field part of the project is being carried out in the abandoned Orijärvi mining site (Salo), where samples for the research have been taken. No concrete remediation measures are currently planned for this site within BIONEER.

Cyanobacteria: Nature’s Resilient Architects

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, thrive under extreme conditions. One of the most important metabolic adaptations to harsh environmental conditions is the synthesis of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), in the form of sheets surrounding the cells, which serve as a buffer zone between the cells and the environment, regulate water availability and help in the acquisition of nutrients. Cyanobacteria and their EPS compounds have been shown to play an important role in stabilizing soil against erosion, making these photosynthetic microorganisms pioneers of ecological restoration.

Cyanobacteria are among the first to colonize barren and destroyed (mining) wastelands. Thanks to their resilience, they can survive in harsh environments and initiate the restoration process by forming the early stage biocrusts. In the first phase, the BIONEER project will focus on isolating cyanobacteria from the sediment and surrounding soil of the Orijärvi landfill. The isolated cyanobacteria will be tested for their efficiency in colonizing and stabilizing the toxic landfill sediment.

The Role of Biocrusts

After colonization by cyanobacteria, other organisms such as algae, mosses, fungi, and lichens join the effort. Together they form a delicate living layer on the soil surface, known as a “biological soil crust” or “biocrust”. This biocrust acts as a protective shield that prevents erosion, increases soil stability, and improves water retention. At the Orijärvi landfill, the biocrusts are well developed and now cover a part of the waste area. This process has taken 60 years since the mine was closed, but there is still a large, uncovered area and erosion of the toxic sediment continues. The BIONEER project aims to find ways to accelerate this re-vegetation process in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way.

BIONEER’s Mission

The BIONEER project focuses on harnessing the power of biocrusts in restoration of post-mining waste areas:

• Isolating and Cultivating Cyanobacteria: Researchers collect biocrusts from mine tailings and isolate cyanobacterial strains. These hardy microbes are then cultivated in controlled environments.

• Testing Cyanobacterial Resilience: The project evaluates how well these cyanobacterial strains survive and thrive on polluted soil. Their ability to withstand adverse conditions is critical for successful bioengineering.

• Developing Soil Remediation Techniques: By understanding the properties of cyanobacteria and their impact on soil health, the BIONEER team aims to create effective techniques for rehabilitating post-mining waste areas.

Toward a Greener Future

The BIONEER project is a glimmer of hope for the environmental remediation of disused mining landfills. The research is carried out in close collaboration with researchers in the RECAP project (Serbia), which investigates inoculation of cyanobacteria as a remediation tool for soils affected by desertification. RECAP has developed several techniques to overcome inoculation challenges that support the survival of cyanobacteria and the successful development of biocrusts in areas affected by desertification.

The collaboration between the researchers of the two projects is planned to continue also in the later phases of the BIONEER project, and the transfer of knowledge from both sides will benefit a broad research community and numerous stakeholders. The goal is the same: by harnessing the resilience of cyanobacteria and the power of biocrusts, together we can transform scarred landscapes into thriving ecosystems.

Further readings:
Evaluating the environmental and economic impact of mining for post-mined land restoration and land-use
Orijärvi history
Cyanobacterial Potential for Restoration of Loess Surfaces through Artificially Induced Biocrusts (Link a; link b)
Cyanobacterial restoration
Microbial biobanking – cyanobacteria-rich topsoil facilitates mine rehabilitation
What is a biocrust? A refined, contemporary definition for a broadening research community
Biocrusts: the living skin of the earth
Innovative Biocrust Restoration Technique Offers Hope in Warming Climate
RECAP web page