Participation Type
Discussion
Session Title
Session 8.09 Environment and Ecology
Presentation #1 Title
Imagining and Acting On Possibilities for Reforesting Abandoned Mountaintop Removal Sites:
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Since fall 2011 three Radford University (RU) faculty members (representing Biology, Geospatial Sciences, and Appalachian Studies) have partnered with the nonprofit organization, Green Forests Work, and the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, an initiative of the Federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement in partnership with the seven Appalachian State Regulatory Authorities, to educate RU students about the forestry reclamation work occurring on abandoned mountaintop removal sites in Central Appalachia. The known reality of these MTR sites is environmental damage and destruction; yet the imagined possibility is one of healthy, productive hardwood forests. An alternative spring break trip to Eastern Kentucky in March 2013 allowed the students and faculty members to plant native hardwoods, including disease-resistant American chestnut seedlings, on a former mine site. The faculty members have received internal funding to lead another alternative spring break planting trip in March 2014. Not only do the students acquire scientific knowledge about the tree plantings, such as basic forestry and soil science concepts and mitigating adverse mine soil conditions, they also learn historical and cultural information in order to contextualize their tree planting activism.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
I obviously included more presenters than four because we believe it's important to include students in the facilitated discussion. If you absolutely need a sampling of bios, I'll be glad to provide some. Thanks for understanding. Theresa Burriss
Presentation #2 Title
A Collaboration Between Green Forests Work, Radford University, and the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative
Imagining and Acting On Possibilities for Reforesting Abandoned Mountaintop Removal Sites:
Harris Hall 134
Since fall 2011 three Radford University (RU) faculty members (representing Biology, Geospatial Sciences, and Appalachian Studies) have partnered with the nonprofit organization, Green Forests Work, and the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, an initiative of the Federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement in partnership with the seven Appalachian State Regulatory Authorities, to educate RU students about the forestry reclamation work occurring on abandoned mountaintop removal sites in Central Appalachia. The known reality of these MTR sites is environmental damage and destruction; yet the imagined possibility is one of healthy, productive hardwood forests. An alternative spring break trip to Eastern Kentucky in March 2013 allowed the students and faculty members to plant native hardwoods, including disease-resistant American chestnut seedlings, on a former mine site. The faculty members have received internal funding to lead another alternative spring break planting trip in March 2014. Not only do the students acquire scientific knowledge about the tree plantings, such as basic forestry and soil science concepts and mitigating adverse mine soil conditions, they also learn historical and cultural information in order to contextualize their tree planting activism.
