Introduction. The growing volumes of extraction, processing and transportation of minerals in Russia and the world contribute to an increase in disturbed lands, which actualizes the development of new approaches and methods for reclamation work. However, a clear structure of methods for restoring disturbed lands has not yet been developed. Hence the purpose of the work: to explore the world experience in the implementation of traditional and innovative approaches to the reclamation of disturbed lands in order to identify the most promising trends for further research. Materials and methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study are the scientific works of Russian and foreign scientists in the field of earth sciences, geo-ecology, physical chemistry, geo-botany and microbiology. Methods of the work are general scientific methods, such as dialectical, historical, analysis, synthesis, comparison, grouping, as well as systematic and empirical approaches. Results and discussion. The study substantiates the identification of two approaches: traditional and innovative; the author’s structure of methods for biological stage of reclamation work has been developed. The traditional approach is characterized by standard, but less effective, labor-intensive, and therefore expensive, methods of reclamation by using a fertile soil layer and potentially fertile rocks with the sowing of perennial grasses, trees and shrubs. An innovative approach is on agenda today. It can significantly reduce the cost of reclamation procedures due to the use of modern technologies and materials for restoring soil fertility and decontaminating pollutants. The innovative approach includes basic methods: 1. Algae; 2. Washing; 3. Bioremediation; 4. Sorbent-oriented. The study offers to improve the term «disturbed lands» in the regulatory field of the Russian Federation in order to take into account, along with the anthropogenic and natural factors. The structure of the disturbed lands of Russia is revealed in the context of the extraction of various types of minerals. Conclusions and offers. The article presents the results of the analysis of the world methodological experience in biological stage of reclamation work. It has been established that both in Russia and abroad, work is underway to improve the biological stage of reclamation. Attention is focused on the method of bioremediation and its sub-method of phytoremediation with the sorbent-oriented method, the combination of which, according to the authors, is of the greatest practical interest. It is revealed that the tasks of using local types of raw materials for the creation of composite sorbents are topical. The authors consider the creation of composite sorbents based on peat, as the most common raw material in Russia, to be a promising direction.
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