Ecology of post strip-mining landscapes in Lusatia, Germany

Abstract

Strip-mining has an enormous impact on the landscape. In the Lusatian mining district of eastern Germany, where presently 6% of the global lignite production occurs this influence is of particular concern. Over the last hundred years 75,000 ha of land have been turned into dumps. The water balance of the whole region has been changed by groundwater pumping. Fifty percent of the dump area has not been reclaimed so far. At many places recultivation efforts are impeded by extreme ecological site conditions mainly due to the high pyrite content of the spoil material. Pyrite weathering causes very low pH values, high electrical conductivity and enhanced solubility of heavy metals and aluminium. This adverse chemical status of the substrate influences the quality of the seepage and groundwater and also of the postmining lakes. After the German reunification new concepts aiming at an ecologically sustainable development of the postmining landscapes had to be developed. In this context, the Center of Excellence `Minesite Recultivation' was established in Cottbus in order to generate basic ecological knowledge to eventually develop guidelines focussing on rational action plans for creating region specific and sustainable postmining landscapes.