On International Mother Earth Day, UNU-FLORES officially opens its 2026 field work season in the Lusatia Living Laboratory with two Resource Nexus projects focused on post-mining land restoration.
Healing damaged ecosystems through science
As Mother Earth sends urgent signals through climate disruption, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation, researchers in the former lignite mining region of Lusatia are answering the call with innovative approaches to soil restoration and ecosystem recovery.
"Decades of lignite mining have left vast areas of disturbed land in Lusatia," explains the UNU-FLORES research team. "Our projects address the critical challenge of restoring these degraded post-mining Technosols while advancing our understanding of how ecosystems can recover from major industrial disturbances."
Two complementary research projects in transformed landscapes
Project 1: Microalgae-based soil enhancement
Nexus Approach: Soil-Water-Waste-Biota
The first project explores an innovative circular economy approach: using algal harvest water – a byproduct of microalgae cultivation for food production – as a biostimulant to accelerate soil restoration in post-mining areas. This research tests whether algal harvest water can improve soil organic carbon content, enhance nutrient cycling, boost microbial activity, and support plant establishment in severely degraded Technosols.
Partners:
UNU-FLORES (project coordination and research design)
LMBV, Lusatian and Central German Mining Administration (https://www.lmbv.de/) – providing access to field trial sites and historical mining data
BTU, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (https://www.b-tu.de/) – conducting laboratory analyses and greenhouse experiments
Algenwerk (https://algenwerk.de/) – supplying algal harvest water
The project combines controlled greenhouse experiments under varying water stress conditions with real-world field trials under natural conditions, using maize as an indicator crop. Researchers will monitor changes in soil physical properties (bulk density, water holding capacity), chemical properties (pH, organic carbon, nutrient availability), and biological indicators throughout the growing season.
Project 2: Long-term soil evolution assessment
Nexus Approach: Soil-Material-Waste-Biota
The second project takes a broader temporal perspective, investigating how post-mining and post-industrial soils naturally evolve and restore over time following major disturbances. This research aims to establish baseline understanding of natural soil development processes in disturbed landscapes, providing critical context for evaluating the effectiveness of active restoration interventions.
Partners:
UNU-FLORES (project coordination and research design)
LMBV, Lusatian and Central German Mining Administration (https://www.lmbv.de/) – providing access to field trial sites and historical mining data
TUD, Dresden University of Technology (https://tu-dresden.de) – conducting laboratory analyses and greenhouse experiments
A living laboratory for sustainable restoration
The Lusatian region, with its legacy of extensive lignite extraction, serves as an ideal living laboratory for developing restoration solutions applicable to post-industrial landscapes worldwide.
"These projects embody the shift toward a more sustainable economy that works for both people and planet," notes the research team. "By transforming a waste product – algal harvest water – into a soil restoration tool, we're demonstrating Resource Nexus principles in action while addressing one of the region's most pressing environmental challenges."
Suggested citation: "UNU-FLORES Launches 2026 Field Season in Lusatia on International Mother Earth Day ," United Nations University, UNU-FLORES, 2026-04-23, https://unu.edu/flores/article/unu-flores-launches-2026-field-season-lusatia-international-mother-earth-day.
