ABSTRACT
As we can see in many chapters of this book, soil formation in post-mining soils is closely connected with ecosystem development. Soil formation is a basic precondition for the development vegetation, water and nutrient storage, and ecosystem functioning. On the other hand, the development of vegetation provides the conditions for soil development, specifi cally for the formation of soil A horizons (Brady and Weil 2011). Here, we will summarize the major features of post-mining substrates, evaluate the possibilities for soil and ecosystem development at unreclaimed sites, and compare these with the major reclamation approaches. When comparing individual reclamation approaches, one should keep in mind the purposes for which the restored sites will serve, consider their major potential future uses, as well as the restoration of the natural ecosystem as a habitat for wildlife, along with the native fl ora and fauna, forestry, and agriculture.
