Restoration ecology of post-industrial sites

Lectures 12 hours

Topics

Reclamation - introduction, definition, background

Balance of post-mining areas, landscape reconstruction

Reclamation treatments, examples of reclamation strategies depending on climate, geology and economy -

transcontinental review

Dynamic concepts and ecosystem management: development of the forest ecosystem in post-mining areas,

soil formation process and plant succession, mine soil classification, reclamation assessment criterion,

ecosystem productivity, nutrient cycle

Risk assessment in post-mining areas, drainage of acid mines, technical and biological methods for stabilizing

extremely contaminated and eroded post-industrial areas

Accomplished learning outcomes EPB_W1, EPB_W2

Means of verification, rules and criteria of assessment oral credit

Classes: 18 hours

Topics

Workshops: discussion on reclamation of post-industrial sites, strategies for reclamation on the example of

selected post-mining areas

One-day field visit in post-mining areas: landscape management of post-mining areas, reclamation measures,

forest management in post-mining areas, sustainable development of post-mining areas; practical

morphology of mine soils and description of vegetation

Final evaluation of experience and conclusions - presentation of a case study

Accomplished learning outcomes EPB_U1,EPB_K1, EPB_K2

Means of verification, rules and criteria of assessment essay / report

References:

Basic 1. Courtney, R., Pietrzykowski, M. 2017. Soil quality indices for evaluation of acid mine spoil. Chapter 2

(in:) Bio-Geotechnologies for mine site rehabilitation, Eds: Majeti NV Prasad, Paulo Favas, and Subodh K

Maiti. Elsevier, Amsterdam-Oxford-Cambridge,p. 33 - 48.

2. Pietrzykowski M. 2015. Reclamation and reconstruction of terrestrial ecosystems on mine sites -

ecological effectiveness assessment. (Chapter 5), in: J.N. Govil et al. (ed.), Series: Energy Science and

Technology, Coal Energy (Volume 2), Studium Press LLC, New Delhi, Houston, USA, p. 121-151.

(available on-line at: http://wl.ur.krakow.pl/zasoby/3/chapter_Pietrzykowski2014.pdf)

3. Pietrzykowski M., Krzaklewski W. 2017. Reclamation of mine lands in Poland. Chapter 27 (in:) BioGeotechnologies for mine site rehabilitation, Eds: Majeti NV Prasad, Paulo Favas, and Subodh K Maiti.

Elsevier, Amsterdam-Oxford-Cambridge, p. 493-513.

Supplementary 1. Barnhisel R. I., Darmody R. G., Daniels W. L., (ed.). 2000. Reclamation of drastically disturbed lands.

Number 41 in the series Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin USA Publishers

2. Pietrzykowski M., Krzaklewski W., 2007. An assessment of energy efficiency in reclamation to forest.

Ecological Engineering, 30, 341-348.

Symbol of

outcome Description of the learning outcome

Reference to

main field of

study outcomes

Area

symbol*

KNOWLEDGE – student knows and understands

EPB_W1

the concepts and treatments of reclamation of post-industrial sites: the

course of biological reclamation, the development of new ecosystems and

their dynamics, criteria for assessing the success of reclamation, some

issues of ecological engineering and ecology of restoring post-industrial

sites

EPB2_W01

EPB2_W02 RL

EPB_W2

the dynamic concepts and management of the post-mining ecosystem

through the development of the forest ecosystem in post-mining areas, the

process of soil formation and plant succession, classification of mine soils,

criteria for assessing the reclamation of ecosystem productivity, nutrient

circulation; post-industrial landscape management

EPB2_W03

EPB2_W05 RL

SKILLS – student is able to

EPB_U1

assess the risk of successful reclamation in post-mining areas, plan basic

technical and biological methods for stabilizing extremely contaminated and

eroded post-industrial areas, and assess the correctness of basic

components

EPB2_U05

EPB2_U06 RL

RL

SOCIAL COMPETENCIES – student is ready to:

EPB_K1 working in a group, managing a small team and preparing presentations and

discussing research results

EPB2_K02

EPB2_K06 RL

EPB_K2 discussions on: reclamation of post-industrial sites, strategies of reclamation

based on the example of selected post-mining areas EPB2_K04 RL

Means of verification, rules and criteria of assessment oral credit

Final evaluation of experience and conclusions - presentation of a case study