Abstract

The rehabilitation of quarries presents a significant environmental and socio-economic challenge, requiring the reconciliation of industrial interests with ecological sustainability. Traditionally, rehabilitation efforts have been constrained by rigid perspectives, prioritizing economic feasibility over ecological restoration. This paper explores how doubt and cognitive flexibility serve as critical mechanisms in reshaping stakeholder perceptions, ultimately fostering more adaptive and sustainable rehabilitation strategies. By challenging entrenched beliefs, doubt stimulates the reconsideration of conventional methods, while cognitive flexibility enables stakeholders to integrate innovative, naturebased solutions into rehabilitation frameworks. Using Lebanon’s cement quarries as a case study, this paper examines how collaborative dialogues between government authorities and industry stakeholders have facilitated shifts in perception. The Ministry of Environment (MoE) advocates for stricter regulations to mitigate environmental degradation, while quarry operators express concerns over economic constraints and operational feasibility. Through a mediated process emphasizing cognitive flexibility, both parties have explored hybrid rehabilitation models that balance environmental restoration with economic viability. Drawing on international case studies-including the Eden Project (UK), Karuizawa Quarry (Japan), and Alentejo (Portugal)-this paper highlights how successful rehabilitation projects leverage doubt and adaptability to drive transformative change. The concept of ecotones, as transitional zones fostering biodiversity and collaboration, serves as a metaphor for the intersection of industrial and ecological interests. By embracing doubt and cognitive flexibility, stakeholders can move beyond extraction toward a future where quarry rehabilitation is not merely a regulatory obligation but an opportunity for sustainable ecological and economic integration.

Keywords:Quarry rehabilitation; Cognitive flexibility; Environmental psychology; Stakeholder perceptions; Ecotones; Nature-based solutions; Sustainable restoration; Industry-environment balance; Adaptive management; Ecosystem resilience

Abbreviations: MoE: Ministry of Environment; NBS: Nature-Based Solutions; EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment; CBD: Convention on Biological Diversity; SDGs: Sustainable Development Goals; UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; UNCCD: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification; CO₂: Carbon Dioxide