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The long-term emission impacts of the nickel processing industry in the Kola Peninsula, the largest source of sulfur dioxide and heavy metals emissions in Northern Europe, have created vast technogenic barrens near the mineral industry complexes. The pace of rehabilitation using the improved remediation technologies to enhance sustainable environmental management and regional economic development is of crucial social and economic importance. In a 120-day incubation experiment, we evaluated the prospects for the restoration of two soils at different degradation stages via carbon pool regulation comparing to mineral ameliorants – NPK fertilizer, and liming agent. Organic additives used included a humic preparation based on an alkaline brown coal extract, wood-derived biochar, and peat-derived gel, supplied by mycorrhizae fungi. The results demonstrate that the selected organic amendments are suitable for restoration of acidic metal contaminated soils. Specifically, the treatments provided a measurable increase in soil carbon content, a marked decrease in acidity, a decrease in extractable metal contents, together with an enhanced nutrient uptake and vegetative growth. A stabilization effect increased from biochar to peat-gel, liming agent and humic preparation, with an accompanying increase in soil pH. Although biochar showed a reduced ability to metal stabilization, the associated treatments were the most productive. The most effective amendments in multi-metallic contaminated soils need to be able to stabilize bioavailability of metals, adjust pH to the optimum for plant growth, and regulate nutrient consumption., soil remediation, heavy metals, carbon stock regulation.

Sub-Arctic regions, previously considered one of the largest pristine ecosystems in the world, are being subjected to increasing pressure from mining and smelting activities. The minerals industry has contributed significantly to environmental damage and deterioration in the Russian sub-Arctic. Despite a significant reduction in gaseous and particulate emissions in the recent decades, the continuing air pollution and accumulation of potentially toxic metal levels in surface soils have promoted soil erosion and nutrient depletion in topsoils that inhibit vegetation recovery near the industrial complexes in the Kola Peninsula. These cumulative impacts on regional ecosystems are further exacerbated by the changing climatic conditions. The effectiveness of rehabilitation programs initiated in 2003–04 is largely dependent on the ongoing decrease of pollutant loadings, on the improvement of physical, chemical, and biological conditions of regional soils, and also on the effectiveness and suitability of the evolving remediation technology. The pace of rehabilitation using diversified and newly developed improved remediation technologies to enhance sustainable environmental management and regional economic development needs to be accelerated.