**3. Conclusions and perspectives**

• the variety of vegetation in terms of functional features of species and their importance in

• diversification of habitat conditions and aquatic properties of anthropogenic peatlands [67];

Flooded mine subsidence is one of the effects of underground 'deep' coal mining. The subsidence results from the gradual sinking of the ground over the mine workings and takes the form of shallow (3–4 m deep) basins with gently sloping sides. Subsidence can occur in woodland, farmland, or industrial areas. However, the few studies conducted so far suggest that subsidence basins are unique enclaves, which facilitate the development of new ecologi-

The study conducted on flooded mine subsidence showed that despite similar origins, subsidence pools differ substantially when it comes to the level of plant diversity. In contrast, there is no difference in terms of the average share of various functional groups (FGs). Plant diversity was substantially affected by the size and depth of the subsidence pools and habitat humidity, C/N ratio, concentration of P total in the soil, water, and water clarity. Subsidence pools differ significantly in terms of the number of dominant species. The importance and value of ecosystem services provided by 10 subsidence pools on the post-industrial area in Poland and Czech Republic, and their vicinity was estimated on an average of €521,000 [€ × ha × year−1]. The most important ecosystem service that the pools fulfill is the water supply and habitat

**Figure 8.** The example of predicted changes in species composition of vegetation developing on coal-mine flooded mine

cal systems, thereby contributing to the biodiversity of such areas [77, 115, 116].

• creating wetlands habitats and their role in local water retention.

water retention [67];

184 Ecosystem Services and Global Ecology

creation (**Figure 8**) [75].

subsidence [75].

In ecological restoration, the biggest challenge is to find a general consensus of suitable biodiversity indicators and economically viable measures, which will produce multiple socially and ecologically guided environmental benefits. There is difficulty in reaching such consensus because of the complexity of the biodiversity concept. In an effort to restore sites disturbed by industrial (mining) activities, restoration projects should involve ecologically based methods and approaches, which would be able to fulfill many stakeholders' expectations for sustainable development and human well-being.

In this respect, it would be useful to employ integrated natural and human models to understand the dynamics of ecosystems including most of biodiversity and trophic levels (including such trophic levels like the mid-trophic consumer) in order to simulate management scenarios in relation to biodiversity and ecosystem services. Another crucial point will be the increasing understanding of the role of biodiversity and ecosystem service identification as important factors influencing the relationships between them. Both the models and the knowledge could be used to develop predictive scenarios of system-level impacts under a range of possible management policy scenarios in order to assess and to explore which management policy provides the greatest impact on sustainable ecological, social, and economic aspects.
