The Comparison of Soil Properties in Heath Forest and Post-tin Mined Land: Basic for Ecosystem Restoration

Heath forest is a restricted forest ecosystem in the world. In Indonesia, heath forest degradation caused by tin mining activity on Belitung Island emerges biodiversity lost and soil properties lost. In fact, they play important role as main aspect for rehabilitiation. This study aims to describe soil properties and vegetation in heath forest and two different ages of tin mined land. The result shows thatin 3 year tailing contains very high amount of sand, low organic matter, low CEC which effect to desertification that hindered plant to grow. Indeed, low organic matter affects low water absorbtion. Meanwhile, 130 year tailing results lower amount of sand than 3 year tailing. Adequate organic matter closes to organic matter in the forest and appropriate CEC. Soil development in tin tailing soil takeshundreds years to slightly improve naturally. Several soil amendments could be implemented to improve sandy soil, such by adding organic matterial, following with polymer fertilizer. Heath forest restorationby natural succession approach should select local species which well adapted as pioneer and apply seedbank from forest floor as seed source of native species.