The aim of this study was to evaluate restoration methods used in a revegetation project for the heavily disturbed area around the abandoned underground mine Stekenjokk, located in an alpine area in Västerbotten County, Sweden. The studies were initiated in 2013 by Enetjärn Natur AB on behalf of Boliden Mineral AB and several methods were adopted in the purpose of investigating the feasibility of different restoration methods. Seeding, plantation of adult plants and transplantation of vegetation turfs were performed in combination with addition of organic matter. In addition, ‘safe sites’ were created either by addition of cobbles to the surface, creation of holes in the ground or by putting out coconut mats. All plant material, e.g. seeds, plantation of adult plants and transplantation of vegetation turfs, resulted in new establishment of plants in the area. Spontaneous establishment of plants was also observed in several of the examined plots. Several of the methods used are probably suitable for restoration of the old industrial area in Stekenjokk. However, the success varied among different methods and there was a tendency for higher survival of plants in experimental plots to which soil had been added. A combination of addition of plant material (seeds or adult plants), addition of organic matter and creation of ‘safe sites’ seemed most effective in accelerating revegetation in the heavily degraded area in Stekenjokk. However, sample sizes were small and more studies should be conducted to confirm the generality of this conclusion.

Στα πλαίσια αυτής της εργασίας πραγματοποιήθηκε έρευνα και ανάλυση των συνθηκών που έχει δημιουργήσει η εκμετάλλευση του λιγνίτη στην περιοχή του Λεκανοπεδίου Πτολεμαΐδας – Αμυνταίου, μελέτη και αξιολόγηση των μεθόδων αποκατάστασης του τοπίου και της βλάστησης, που λαμβάνουν χώρα υπό τον πλήρη έλεγχο της ΔΕΗ και τέλος, διατυπώνονται προτάσεις οι οποίες θα επιτρέψουν την κατά τον καλύτερο τρόπο αξιοποίηση και αποκατάσταση του τοπίου που έχει προκύψει, έτσι ώστε, να επιτευχθεί ορθολογική συνέχιση της εκμετάλλευσης του λιγνίτη με ελαχιστοποίηση των επιπτώσεων στο περιβάλλον. / The aim of this investigation is the exploration and analysis of the environmental conditions which have been arisen during the exploitation of the lignite quarries in the Ptolemaida – Amyntaio basin. Also, of great value is the study and estimation of the current environmental restoration methods which have been applied from the national electricity company, which utilize the lignite mining areas. Last but not least, our intention is to propose alternative restorative applications for the vegetation and landscape of the mining areas, in order to accomplish the continuation of lignite exploitation with minimization of the consequences to the environment.

Common problems and characteristics of sites affected by the mining are land occupation, pollution, land degradation, hydrologic changes and landscape change what belong to the major environmental problems in many countries. Despite the regulation prescribed by the Mining Act which brought significant progress in post mining land reclamation, emphasise mostly in recovery of production capability of landscape, many recent studies state it may not be so effective in restoration of diversity and ecosystem services. In order to properly assess newer approaches in spoil heaps recultivation our research is focused on the restoration of species rich meadows using near-nature methods, specifically the transfer of turves and seeds-containing hay transfer supported by management (mowing and mowing with mulching). Additionally, the research is focused on influence of the plot size on restoration success and on effect of management on soil development. Both of the applied near-nature methods of species rich meadow recultivation are effective in species provisioning and thus succession acceleration. More successful is the method of transferred turves where it was possible to establish more than 60% of the species from the donor site. The species richness on sites and its spreading is dependent on implemented...