Foresting of Technogenic Devastated Lands as an Effective Factor for Environmental Safety at the Mining & Metallurgical District

Abstract

The book contains the study results of the environmental and soil conditions of the transformed territories, the ecological patterns of woody plants natural communities’ formation as well as the features of the herbaceous communities’ succession in flooded areas. The current state of forest areas is highlighted, the problems of forest management and their exploitation in Ukraine are outlined. Aspects of anthropogenic impact on natural aquatic ecosystems are shown and various biotesting methods of negative effects are characterized. The relationship between the presence of exogenous biologically active chemical compounds in the environment and damage to the endocrine system of animals has been revealed. The logical conclusion of our publication was a scientific substantiation of ways to use woody plant species on technogenic devastated lands for optimize of the environmental sustainability and increase environmental safety at the Kryvyi Rih mining & metallurgical district. Technogenic devastated lands in the Kryvyi Rih Mining & Metallurgical basin occupy about 29.1 thousand hectares. In thes areas soils were classified as Technosols and having unfavorable for plants properties: a small amount of macronutrients and an excess of heavy metals and very phytotoxic. The reliable relationship exists between the prevalence of woody plant species and characteristics of devastated lands. Afforestation of devastated lands will be the most effective way for protection and improvement of the human environment. The relevance of our research was due to the need to introduce innovative technologies for the reclamation of devastated lands. The objectives of our research were: (i) to reveal the origin, typology and distribution of devastated lands; (ii) to study the ecological and edaphic conditions on the territories; (iii) to identify the patterns formation for woody plant communities.