This dissertation addresses a relevant scientific and practical issue: the restoration of the ecosystem of a technogenically damaged area at a decommissioned sulfur mining enterprise.
The study explores the technogenic aspects of tailings storage facilities from sulfur production. It was established that large-scale sulfur production using the flotation method has led to the accumulation of vast amounts of waste in tailings ponds, posing significant environmental threats. Key issues include chemical contamination of water and soil, acid drainage formation, and the release of toxic gases. The industrial activity of the Yavoriv State Mining and Chemical Enterprise "Sirka" caused soil degradation, water pollution, fragmentation of forest areas, and biodiversity loss within the "Roztochchia" biosphere reserve.
A comparative analysis of natural and technogenic ecosystems shows a sharp decline in ecological stability in industrial impact zones. However, the research revealed signs of natural succession processes, indicating the possibility of ecological rehabilitation.
It was shown that technogenic ecosystems possess low biotic potential. Contaminated and saline tailings soils, lack of nutrients and water, and high levels of toxic substances significantly hinder the development of flora and fauna. Analysis of the vegetation cover condition showed significant variation depending on the zone. The central part of the tailings pond is the most polluted and degraded, with low vegetation coverage and clear signs of toxic stress in plants. In the surrounding areas, recovery is slow, while the transitional zone toward natural ecosystems demonstrates notable improvement. Studies of the abiotic components in the tailings ecosystem revealed significant deviations from natural standards typical for the Roztochchia reserve. In particular, tailings soil exhibited low porosity (41.56%), impeding effective vegetation formation. The surface layer density was 1.42 kg/m³, which prevents the development of woody vegetation. The practical absence of humus indicates extremely low soil fertility. The chemical composition of the surface layer shows high concentrations of sulfur (28.55%) and calcium (68.83%), necessitating reclamation measures to improve soil physicochemical properties and restore natural ecosystems.
Species diversity was assessed using the Shannon Index (H = 1.28) and the succession coefficient (K = 0.19), indicating that the central part of the tailings area has the lowest biotic self-recovery potential.
Reclamation of post-technogenic areas aligns with Ukraine's Sustainable Development Goals, national legislation, and European Union standards, aiming to ensure environmental safety and restore degraded lands for productive use. Ukrainian legislation, including the Land Code and laws on environmental protection and waste management, mandates reclamation efforts. Harmonization with EU standards, particularly through the Association Agreement, promotes legal improvements and the implementation of the "polluter pays" principle, which is vital for sustainable development and environmental safety.
To effectively restore the ecosystem of the Yavoriv "Sirka" tailings pond, a set of primary producers was identified—species capable of surviving low soil pH, contributing to organic matter accumulation and soil structure improvement, resistant to heavy metal contamination and salinity, performing bioremediation and nitrogen fixation, and forming a stable vegetation cover to prevent erosion and support the hydrological regime. This includes a combination of herbaceous species (Deschampsia caespitosa, Festuca rubra, Agrostis tenuis, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium repens), shrubs (Hippophae rhamnoides), and tree species (Betula pendula, Pinus sylvestris). The proposed methodology was applied during reclamation of a section of the flotation-method sulfur tailings pond of the decommissioned Yavoriv State Mining and Chemical Enterprise "Sirka."
To enhance the viability of primary producers and improve agrotechnical characteristics of the soil, plants were inoculated with a mixture of bacterial preparations (Mycovital, Planriz-Bio, Azotfixator, Florabacillin), whey, and the fertilizer “Agrobolik Universal.”
On a 6,000 m² area, geotechnical preparation was performed, a reclamation layer was formed, and 600 pine and 400 birch saplings were planted. This creates the preconditions for full restoration of the natural ecosystem and further use of the land for economic or conservation purposes.
Key words: tailings pond, reclamation, State Mining and Chemical Enterprise Yavoriv "Sirka", Roztochchia biosphere reserve
