FG Geopedologie und Landschaftsentwicklung
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BTU
The German government's decision to phase out lignite mining by 2038 or earlier, as recently 2030 has been agreed for the Rhineland, will trigger a number of transition processes in Germany's remaining lignite mining areas. The two largest lignite mining areas are located in geographically different regions: Rhineland in the west and Lusatia in the east. As the socio-economic and environmental conditions in these two mining areas are set to change dramatically, the German government has adopted extensive economic support measures. However, the environmental changes will also lead to changes in the ecosystem functions and services provided by the future post-mining landscapes.
Gerwin et al. (2023) compare the two main lignite producing regions of Germany in terms of their natural and cultural environments. The economic situation and its history are reflected and differences are outlined. Part of the differences in cultural development can be explained by the natural conditions, especially the edaphic factors and the climatic situation. Because of the specific geological settings, tailored mining technologies were developed and used in the two regions, with different effects on the resulting post-mining landscapes.
We conclude that the landscapes of Lusatia and the Rhineland have been radically restructured by the long and varied history of lignite mining. Both regions will change significantly as the mining industry continues to decline and is expected to cease altogether within the next decade. These changes in the post-mining landscapes and the ecosystem services will provide both challenges and opportunities. The preconditions for positive socio-economic development and for sustainable land use concepts that also consider ecological aspects are different for the two regions. The exchange of knowledge and experience between the two mining regions is crucial to the success of this major transformation process, despite, or perhaps because of, these differences.
Gerwin, W., Raab, T., Birkhofer, K., Hinz, C., Letmathe, P., Leuchner, M., Roß-Nickoll, M., Rüde, T., Trachte, K., Wätzold, F., Lehmkuhl, F. (2023): Perspectives of lignite post-mining landscapes under changing environmental conditions: what can we learn from a comparison between the Rhenish and Lusatian region in Germany? Environmental Sciences Europe 35:36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-023-00738-z
Former field systems (FFS) in sloped forest areas are often discernible by a characteristic morphology with flattened slope areas and intermediary ridges formed by tillage erosion and colluvial redeposition. Soils of such lynchet field systems feature modified stratigraphy and properties and constitute a memory of past land use. At the same time, the legacies of past agriculture affect recent forest ecosystems. High-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) allow to identify lynchets over large areas and open up new opportunities to study the FFS. Within our research on different land use legacy features in forest areas, we study FFS in Northeastern Bavaria (Germany) in a geopedological approach, combining large-scale mapping and spatial analysis with the description and analysis of soil properties for specific sites.
Lynchet systems (and other remnants of pre-industrial FFS) in recent forests were mapped from LIDAR DEMs for an area of 2045 km2 (972 km2 forest area). The results show more than 100 km2 of FFS, mostly appearing as lynchet systems. Their spatial distribution patterns differ within the study area, mainly depending on parent material and landform.
Soil stratigraphy and properties were studied for FFS and reference positions in six study sites, combining a characterization of principal soil profiles and an assessment of spatial soil property variations. The FFS soils are characterized by truncated profiles over most parts of the flattened slope areas and accumulation of colluvium upslope of lynchet risers. The depth of soil profile truncation and height of lynchet risers differ, mainly related to slope and erodibility of the initial soils. Stratigraphy of the lynchet soils indicates a gradually proceeding formation by tillage erosion. First results of soil property analyses show that carbon and nitrogen contents differ between FFS and reference soils and are more homogeneous within the FFS. Furthermore, physical properties of the FFS soils (bulk density, pore size distribution, hydraulic conductivity) are modified compared to unaffected forest soils through profile truncation and accumulation of colluvium. Overall, the results show that the legacy effects of past agriculture affect large fractions of recent forest areas, and can be of different quality depending on lithology of the soils’ parent material and land use history.