BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN THE AREA OF QUARRIES AFTER SAND EXPLOITATION IN THE EASTERN PART OF SILESIAN UPLAND

Summary. The objective of this paper was an attempt at defining the plant diversity and present-ing the participation of protected, rare and endangered species in associations or communitieswhich are formed in the explored quarries (Pogoria I, Siemonia, Ku źnica War ezynska and MaczkiBor). In the parts of quarries which were not reclaimed, unique biocenotic systems are created dur-ing succession. These systems are biotopes of numerous rare and protected plant species, includingthose described in Polish Plant Red Data Book: Pinguicula vulgaris, Liparis loeselii and Malaxismonophyllos. The most abundant in populations of rare species are communities from Cariciondavallianae and Caricion nigrae compound . The conducted research has shown that quarries maybe a suitable place for survival and development of a wide range of rare and critically endangeredPolish plant species.Key words: sand quarry, rare and protected species, biodiversity, Silesian Upland INTRODUCTION Relatively shallow location of coal under the surface of Silesian Upland hasbecome the primary reason of extremely drastic changes in the environment ofthis area. From 1769 to 1995, 9.7 million tons of coal were mined in the UpperSilesia [Pukowska-Mitka 2002]. Already at the end of 19