Fruit Trees and Bushes as a Biodiversity Element in the Gorazdze Quarry Reclaimed Areas

The assumption of biological land reclamation in the forest direction is to introduce trees and shrubs on the reclaimed area so as to bring it as close as possible to the natural state based on the species characteristic for forest communities. While assessing the concept of biodiversity resulting from the naturalistic approach to the forest as a timeless good, it is necessary to take into account the diversity of plantings used and their multifunctionality. One of the functions is to designate crops for utility purposes, by creating a natural undergrowth, birdhouses, forest fringe plantings and enclaves of edible fruit plants. As part of the research, implementing the biodiversity of mid-forest plantings in the post-mining areas of the Gorazdze Limestone Mine (Opolskie Voivodeship), the focus was put on the natural renewal of the tree stand with the admixture of fruiting plants. The application of fruit tree and shrub plantings on relatively small areas allowed the creation of areas of high biodiversity on the recultivated monoculture grounds. The results of the research revealed a relatively high efficiency of the planted trees and shrubs regardless of the existing habitat conditions. The following species had the best health status throughout the vegetation period: apple-tree, common pear, briar-rose, blackthorn and singleseed hawthorn. The use of fruit tree and shrub plantings will contribute, on the one hand, to reducing the costs of reclamation, which is a measurable effect for the mine manager, and strengthening the ecological potential of the new biotope created under the conditions of strong anthropogenic pressure on the other.