UNDERGROUND MINING LONG-TERM IMPACTS ON FOREST LANDS
V. LIBLIK, A. TOOMIK
E. RULL, M. PENSA
Tallinn University of Educational Sciences,
Institute of Ecology
North-East Estonian Department
15 Pargi St., Jõhvi
41537 Estonia
| Underground mining of oil shale in northeastern Estonia causes changes in the exterior of the local landscape in the form of depressions with a depth up to 1.7 metres. As a result of the changing water regime (formation of small water-bodies and marshy areas) the environmental conditions in subsided areas will be affected as well, influencing the development and alternation of local plant communities. Researches and surveys in the subsided area, which was formed 20 years ago in the area of room-and-pillar mining, prove that the former forest has become a poor fen that may further develop to a swamp forest or a transitional bog forest. The affected areas are of great interest from the viewpoint of landscape diversity. |