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Land Reclamation

Learn to rebuild disturbed areas by reestablishing landscapes, replacing soils, restoring plants to reconstruct a sustainable ecosystem that can serve human and other uses.

Land Reclamation Guide

WVU Extension experts are well versed in how to ensure West Virginia stays wild and wonderful for future generations while balancing the economic opportunities our natural resources present.

Land Reclamation Guide

Thousands of acres of land have been disturbed by a variety of activities such as mining, oil and natural gas drilling, pipelines, highway and building construction, and natural disasters. Ecosystems and soil are often destroyed or lost.

Land Reclamation rebuilds these disturbed areas by reestablishing landscapes, replacing soils, restoring plants to reconstruct a sustainable ecosystem that can serve human and other uses.

Learn methods for reclaiming disturbed areas to suitable land uses are described including forests, agriculture for pasture and hay land, building sites, and biomass. Soil reclamation and revegetation are basic principles for proper reclamation.

biomass

Biomass

Learn about planting and growth of biomass crops on these lands and their potential for cellulosic ethanol production.

Just the Basics of Biomass
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land use

Land Use

Get a basis for reclaiming lands to a variety of uses, providing designs and specifications, and the potential opportunities.

Basics of Land Use
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refoestation

Reforestation

Learn about soil selection and placement, herbaceous groundcovers to plant, tree species selection and planting.

Basics of Reforestation
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soil reclamation

Soil Reclamation & Revegetation

Learn methods for selecting and placing topsoils or substitute materials, and the methods and types of plant species that can be planted in for revegetation.

Basics of Soil Reclamation & Revegetation
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