From Stone Extraction to Carbon Sequestration: Restoring Abandoned Quarries Creates Opportunities for Carbon Sequestration

Written by Antonios Apostolakis and Georgios Leventis

Land-use change is often necessary to obtain resources vital for human welfare. However, it is commonly associated with negative environmental impacts. Mining activities, in particular, leave large scars on the landscape that can persist for decades after a quarry has been abandoned. Restoring and reclaiming such land not only improves its visual appearance but also enhances the ecosystem services and functions it can provide. Successful restoration of abandoned quarries thus plays an important role in building a more sustainable future.
The restoration of abandoned quarries is a complex and inherently long-term process that depends on the interactions between soils, plants, and microorganisms. By reintroducing native plant species and communities, PhD student Georgios Leventis and his colleagues aim to support and accelerate the restoration process mainly through the development of microbial inocula, as quarry deposits are biologically impoverished materials lacking soil functions and characterized by limited microbial diversity. A key question in Georgios’ research is whether restored areas eventually resemble undisturbed natural ecosystems. To explore this, he studies two abandoned quarries on the island of Milos that differ in the time since restoration began, as well as adjacent undisturbed natural sites. In collaboration with Dr. Antonios Apostolakis, the team also investigates how the restoration process influences the quantity and quality of soil organic matter.

Restoration of Aggeria bentonite quarry over 15 years. Credits Georgios Petrakis, Department of Rehabilitation, Imerys Greece SA.

Find out more about Georgios on their LinkedIn profile. 

​Terrestrial ecosystems can sequester significant amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. This carbon is stored primarily in plant biomass and soils. In soils, it exists as soil organic matter, a key component of soil fertility and health. Because soil organic matter can persist for long periods, it provides a stable reservoir for carbon, helping to keep it out of the atmosphere. Reclaiming severely degraded land, such as abandoned quarries, increases the area available to support terrestrial carbon cycling and carbon sequestration in soils. At a time when land is emerging as one of our most valuable resources, restoring and reclaiming degraded areas is essential for sustainable development.