Biocrust inoculation to stabilise degraded soils and build drought resilience in post-mining and erosion-prone landscapes

We develop and pilot microbial biocrust solutions (incl. local microalgae isolates) to stabilise degraded, eroded and disturbed soils, increase water retention, and reduce wind and water erosion, enabling longer-term soil ecosystem recovery. On degraded soils, we use inoculation of microalgal consortia to accelerate biocrust formation, strengthening the soil surface, improving landscape water retention and preventing both wind and water erosion. The goal is long-term regeneration of disturbed soil ecosystems, recovery of ecosystem functions and support of soil biodiversity under drought-prone conditions. The approach is designed for post-mining landscapes and areas increasingly exposed to drought, with methods intended to be scalable and transferable across sites and conditions, enabling broader uptake in reclamation practice.

This fits Cluster 6 priorities on scaling evidence-based Nature-Based Solutions and restoring ecosystems, including the focus on large-scale pilots that support climate resilience and water resilience (Destination "Biodiversity and ecosystem services").

It also aligns with HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-BIODIV-03 (Technical innovation to protect ecosystems and to scale up their restoration), which targets more effective restoration and better conditions to implement the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.

We are looking to meet partners from land restoration and reclamation (industry, mining legacies, municipalities), land managers and protected areas, SMEs (application equipment, materials, monitoring), and groups able to host pilot sites and co-design routes to scale-up.

Contacts: Dr. Kateřina Čapková (katerina.capkova@hbu.cas.cz); Dr. Klára Řeháková [(klara.rehakova@ibot.cas.cz](mailto:(klara.rehakova@ibot.cas.cz)