Land Reclamation and Ecological Restoration in a Marine Area

Abstract

This paper deals with the planning of rehabilitation of spoils of asbestos mine in NW Greece with the name MABE in Prefecture of Kozani. For this purpose a detailed ecological research has taken place in the wider area in order to estimate the prevailing environmental (site) conditions. The spoils heaps are characterized by very steep slope inclination (80-90%). In order to improve the stability of the area, in cooperation with civil engineers of our scientific team, a minimization of slope inclination to 39-43% had been decided. For the avoidance of erosion hazard, broad terraces (8-12 m width) and small terraces (1.2 m width) must be constructed. After these works the whole surface of spoils will be covered by topsoil of 40 cm depth. On this topsoil the suitable trees and shrubs species will be planted. The list of these species is the result of detailed research in the mine and the surrounding area. The tree species Pinus nigra, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Quercus pubescens have proposed as dominant species and Acer campestre, Carpinus orientalis, Ostrya carpinifolia, Fraxinus ornus, Celtis austalis and Sorbus aucuparia as secondary tree species.