Managing and Restoring of Degraded Land in Post-mining Areas II

Dear Colleagues,

Human economic activity aimed at the relentless extraction of mineral resources has led and is leading to the disintegration of ecological systems. As a result, individual elements of the landscape undergo far-reaching transformations and often lose their ecosystem service. These changes include aquatic, forest, agricultural, and other ecosystems. Degraded areas often undergo regeneration as a result of spontaneous succession and targeted development and land use for specific needs by administrative bodies in urban planning. In addition, degraded areas are potential sites for residential and sports developments within city limits.

The most visible natural consequences of opencast mining in the environment are large-scale excavations remaining after the exploitation of sand, gravel, limestone, lignite, and hard coal, whereas coal-mine spoil-heaps are mainly elements related to underground mining. The development and restoration of ecological systems in the degraded areas of various regions in post-mining areas are varied and depend on the ecological policy of local governments and their financial capabilities. Although post-industrial and post-mining areas are considered unsuitable from an agricultural point of view, they are valuable areas for selected economic and social functions, especially in highly urbanized areas.

Large water problems, in particular, arise at the stage of closure of underground mines and in open-pit mining in connection with the liquidation of post-mining pits (flooding, changes in the hydrographic network, degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, change in geological and engineering conditions). Urban archaeology, which deals with the identification and characterization of environmental transformations in areas of historical use, is becoming increasingly popular.

From a natural point of view, they represent a unique site as novel ecosystems and a natural laboratory for observing the course and processes of nature in its early stages.

You are cordially invited to publish your results in this Special Issue on degradation, reclamation and management methods for transformed land.

• Landscape restoration and re-greening.
• Cultural landscape.
• Rehabilitation of degraded areas.
• Revitalization of degraded areas.
• Land degradation and soil rehabilitation.
• Mine closures—flooding and changes in the hydrographic network.
• Water reclamation of the post-mining areas of open-cast mines.
• Ecological restoration of post-mining landscapes.
• Biodiversity and ecosystem service of degraded land.
• Novel ecosystems.
• Spontaneous succession of ecosystems on degraded land.
• Change in economic functions.
• Urban archaeology—historical layers of cities.
• Touristic and recreational use of degraded land.

Prof. Dr. Oimahmad Rahmonov
Dr. Jacek Różkowski
Dr. Grzegorz Kłys
Guest Editors

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• land use planning
• derelict areas
• brownfields
• waste dump
• post-industrial soils and areas
• geohazards
• soil pollutions
• anthropogenic ecosystems
• soil development
• vegetation succession
• forest reclamation
• revalorisation
• water reclamation

• Managing and Restoring of Degraded Land in Post-mining Areas in Land (13 articles)