The LIFE HERMES project has held its first participatory meetings in Almadenejos, Spain, and Abbadia San Salvatore, Italy, with the aim of incorporating local knowledge, expectations and concerns into the process of restoring areas affected by mercury contamination 

 The environmental restoration of former mining sites does not depend solely on the application of technical solutions. It also requires an understanding of the relationship between local communities and their territory, their historical memory and their expectations for the future of the restored areas. With this approach, LIFE HERMES has organised its first meetings with the communities of the project’s two pilot sites. 

 A participatory workshop on the future of the Cerco de Almadenejos

On 20 March, the first community workshop focused on the future of the Cerco de Almadenejos was held in Almadenejos. The session provided an opportunity to understand local residents’ perceptions of the site’s current condition and to gather their proposals for its possible restoration, with particular attention to its history, environmental quality and educational, cultural and tourism potential. 

A range of participatory activities were carried out during the workshop. Through a collaborative timeline, participants helped reconstruct the historical memory of the Cerco, identifying relevant places and events. The current condition of the area was also mapped, highlighting both points of interest and potential risks. 

Finally, participants explored different scenarios for the future of the site, including its possible use for tourism, educational and cultural activities. The day concluded with a visit to the Cerco, during which the planned remediation measures and potential future uses of the area were presented and discussed. 

First public meeting in Abbadia San Salvatore 

The first LIFE HERMES information meeting with local residents was also held in Abbadia San Salvatore, with around 20 people attending the session at the municipal videotheque. 

During the meeting, the project’s objectives and main activities were presented, together with the experimental area located in Le Lame. The event also provided an opportunity to recall the historical links between Abbadia San Salvatore and Almadén, two territories deeply shaped by mining activity and mercury production. 

A questionnaire was used to gather the first impressions of local residents regarding decontamination and their expectations for the future restoration of the site. 

Among the main contributions, participants expressed a strong interest in better understanding the process for reducing contamination and the potential environmental risks. They also stressed the importance of respecting the area’s current naturalised character and avoiding overly intensive transformations. 

These first meetings represent an important step towards integrating the local perspective into the development of LIFE HERMES. The contributions gathered will help guide the restoration proposals for both sites and ensure that the environmental measures also respond to the history, needs and aspirations of the communities living alongside these former mining areas.