Abstract
Mining removes vegetation and soil cover causing loss of biotopes. On the other hand it creates new sites in the landscape.
These sites are often unique and after abandonment often harbor specific species. Traditional approach to restoration eliminates potential site diversity by morphology adjustment, topsoil application and planting.
Number of studies of spontaneously revitalized mining sites (quarries, mines, dumps) have proved that majority of such sites have the potential to be restored spontaneously by spontaneous succession or directed succession. Moreover spontaneously restored sites often harbor threatened or endangered species vanishing from landscape due to habitat loss, fertilization and land use changes.