San Giovanni Basins: the green revival of the former mining site

In the San Giovanni Basins area, in the province of Grosseto, environmental restoration efforts are bringing new value to a landscape deeply shaped by its mining heritage. The site, where pyrite was once extracted, has been undergoing permanent safety and environmental restoration works since 2019.

In the years following the end of mining operations, nature has spontaneously begun a process of regeneration, transforming the area into a habitat of particular ecological value . The formation of a small lake and the progressive restoring of vegetation of the site have supported the development of a biodiverse ecosystem, home to a variety of plants and animal species, including several protected ones.

This natural evolution has been a key factor in shaping the restoration strategy, which not only at ensuring the safety of the site but also at protecting existing species and preserving the environmental balance that has developed over time.

The work has been carrying out in collaboration with local authorities and officials, with the aim of combining environmental restoration activities with a broader enhancement of the surrounding landscape and territory. With this in mind, plans for a hiking and educational trail connected to the Mining Park are currently being explored. The trail would help raise awareness for the area's natural and historical heritage.