Multifunctional Greenway Approach for Landscape Planning and Reclamation of a Post-Mining District: Cartagena-La Unión, SE Spain

Establishing a sustainable framework for remediating environmental degradation caused by historical mining operations in the Sierra Minera of Cartagena-La Unión, southeastern Spain, is a critical imperative. When the reclamation requirements of the post-mining district are considered in the context of its critical location, nested among conflicting land uses, the development of practical solutions to restore ecological and cultural functions emerge as a landscape planning challenge. The greenway approach emphasizes the primary ecological and functional corridors that sustain the vitality of the region; therefore, it is essential to preserve and enhance these critical lifelines. This study aimed to design a localized greenway network to support the conservation of key ecological, agricultural, and cultural resources within the area, while simultaneously promoting reclamation activities in degraded zones. The greenway corridor is built upon key elements: conservation areas, post-mining cultural resources, dry riverbeds, and agricultural zones. In the light of greenway approach, planners and land managers can make their decisions more judiciously by considering the priority zones. The protection, leveraging, and reclamation of significant resources can be provided through a multifunctional greenway approach as seen in the case of Cartagena-La Unión Post-Mining District.