FORESTRY RECLAMATION APPROACH
ARRI Advocates Using the Forestry
Reclamation Approach (FRA) to Reclaim Coal Mined Lands
5 Steps of the FRA:
-
Create a suitable rooting
medium for good tree growth that is no less than 4 feet deep
and comprised of topsoil, weathered sandstone, and/or the
best available material
-
Loosely grade the topsoil or
topsoil substitutes established in step one to create a
non-compacted growth medium
-
Use
ground covers that are compatible with growing trees
-
Plant two types of trees –
1) early succession species for wildlife and soil stability,
and 2) commercially valuable crop trees
-
Use proper tree planting
techniques
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Pictured are
cross sections of trees, all the same age and cut the same
distance from the ground. The bottom right tree grew
in
a natural Appalachian forest that was never mined.
The
bottom left tree grew on a former mine site where
the soil was heavily compacted using the traditional reclamation
techniques advocated for the last 30 years.
The largest section
is from a tree planted using the FRA. When proper planting
techniques are used, tree growth can be increased
exponentially. |
17 year old White pines |
The FRA technique
described above is based on the
forestry research
and scientific studies of several leading universities.
Current Federal and State regulations support the FRA technique
for establishing forests as a postmining land use. The ARRI Core Team has determined that when
FRA is implemented, bond releases are not unnecessarily
delayed. For further information on
how to implement FRA in your State, view the
State Regulatory
Authority Guidance Documents.
Click on the thumbnails to view a larger image.
Pictured above are research plots where ARRI foresters and
Academics have studied the Forestry Reclamation Approach.
To learn more about the Forestry Reclamation Approach read our
Forest Reclamation Advisories,
published by the ARRI Science Team.
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