In 2004 Washington Congressional Staff
toured reforested areas of the Starfire mine in eastern Kentucky.
“If we get surface mines back into production, we’ll have economic
return from wood production on the mines again."
Don Graves
UK College of Agriculture Extension Economist
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By Aimee Heald-Nielson
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 11, 2005) – Kentucky already has a long-standing and
respected hardwood industry, but a recent seven-state initiative to reforest
coal-mined lands could add many environmental and economic benefits.
Representatives of the U.S. Office of Surface Mining, U.S Forest Service,
U.S. Department of Energy, the coal industry, environmental organizations,
land companies, academia and the seven Appalachian coal mining states of
Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West
Virginia have joined together to form the Appalachian Regional Reforestation
Initiative.
Kentucky has been experimenting with reforestation in a number of locations
for many years. Since 1997 the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture
in cooperation with the Kentucky Surface Mining Regulatory Program has been
conducting reforestation research on surface mines particularly on what was
once the Starfire mine in eastern Kentucky. Retired Chair of UK’s Department
of Forestry Don Graves has been involved with reforestation projects for
more than 30 years.
“If we get surface mines back into production, we’ll have economic return
from wood production on the mines again,” he said. “We’ll have recreation,
wildlife, tourism, good water, better air, all those things.”
Some specific environmental benefits of reforestation include diverse plant
species, enhanced wildlife habitats, soil and water conservation, water
quality improvement and carbon sequestration. Some specific economic
benefits are increased timber value, landowner tax reductions, enhanced
recreational opportunities, jobs for local economies and local tax revenue.
“In Kentucky we have literally hundreds of thousands of acres out of
production,” Graves said. “All the mining was right in the heart of the
forested areas of the state. As a forester I may be biased, but I don’t
believe people want to see grassland that is predominantly of fescue and
serecia lespedeza. I think to reforest these areas will only help out the
hardwood industry, and the state as a whole, over time.”
The success of the ARRI will depend on collaboration among all the involved
parties, including sharing research. Many other states involved may
initially look to Kentucky to get the ball rolling.
“Kentucky is at the forefront in all of this,” Graves said. “It became a
national incentive by OSM, which is good because it’s the federal regulation
agency for surface mining. It’s a great joint venture with state, federal
and academic organizations. We’re going to try to share in research and
complement each other in what we’re doing to try to make this successful.”
An objective of ARRI is to work with federal, state and local governments,
mining companies, environmental groups, universities and other organizations
to identify landowners and mining companies that will use the Forest
Reclamation Approach. FRA is a five-step reclamation process that has been
proven by forestry research to increase tree survival and productivity.
Current research at UK includes the planting of 3,000 acres of trees around
the state.
“We hope we’ll be able to use these areas as outdoor classrooms to show
people what can be done,” Graves said.
ARRI will provide a forum to transfer technology and other information
concerning the creation of highly productive forestland and related
environmental assets and cooperate as a clearinghouse to share data and
information related to FRA technology. Periodic reports will describe the
initiative’s status, successes and increased productive tree-planting
efforts.
Writer: Aimee
Nielson
859-257-4736, ext. 267Contact:
Don Graves 859-257-6603
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