Post-industrial dumps as a „unique” experiment for ecologists : editorial

Abstract

Post-industrial wastelands are still constantly increasing in area; some of them may be dangerous to human health. These facts provide the major stimulus for the reclamation and restoration of large devastated areas. The reclamation of dumps, especially of toxic dumps, is a challenge and is a severe problem of today. For this purpose, a knowledge and understanding of soil development - mainly induced by soil organisms - is an important prerequisite for any form of soil management on dumps [1].