Fern Communities in Post-Gold Mining Sites of West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Understanding changes in plant communities in post-mining sites is important for managing a degraded landscape. Ferns have been known as species indicators for heavy metals-contaminated environments. However, research focusing on fern communities in post-mining environments is scarce. This study investigates fern communities in post-mining areas that have been abandoned for 1, 6, and 10 years in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The results show that the composition and abundance of fern species differed among post-gold mining sites. Stenochlaena palustris, Pityrogramma calomelanos, Dicranopteris linearis, and Nephrolepis cordifolia are four species recognised as species indicators for post-mining sites aged six and ten years.