Reusing
the surface mines to grow plantation forest is the best economic and ecological
management option yielding successful results. When a study was conducted to assess the outcome of the loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations established over a thirty-year period on reclaimed lignite coal surface mine land in East Texas, United States. Mine land was found to be amenable for the
establishment of productive loblolly pine plantations based on vegetative
community characteristics and development over time. When compared the unmined
loblolly pine plantations, reclaimed sites exhibited some similarity in overall
vegetative composition such as greater plant species richness, and congruence
of important herbaceous and shrub species.