Spontaneous revegetation vs. forestry reclamation of mining sites on different spatial scales

Spontaneously revegetated and forestry reclaimed post-mining sites were compared on the basis of chronosequence approach. The differences in the course of vegetation development, species composition and species richness were assessed. Key factors influencing species composition on forestry reclaimed post-mining sand and sand-gravel pits and the trajectories of vegetation development were determined. Possibilities and limitations of the use of forestry reclamation and spontaneous revegetation were defined.