Rehabilitation of mined areas usually involves some revegetation. However, as follow-up is seldom implemented, the success of such programs is largely unknown. This paper reviews a set of indicators potentially applicable to monitoring and evaluating the results of revegetation in mined areas. A benefit of using indicators is that, ideally, they can facilitate the understanding and interpretation of obtained data, being useful to all stakeholders - mining company staff and managers, government agents, and community representatives. The selected indicators: visual aspect, plant density, average plant height, number of tree species and seedlings mortality rate, were tested in two sand mined areas. The first features a revegetated tailings pond; the second area presents reestablished riparian vegetation. Results show that the areas still did not reach the desired rehabilitation stage. Indicators were shown to be useful and effective for this evaluation; they can be quickly obtained at a low cost, do not demand specialized knowledge and satisfactorily represent the state of the areas.
Revegetation; rehabilitation; mined areas reclamation; performance indicators; sand mining
