WCC021: Revegetation and Stabilization of Deteriorated and Altered Lands
Statement of Issues and Justification
Natural and human-altered environments in the western United States are impacted by disturbances that result in the loss of topsoil, introduction of contaminants, reduction in productivity, and/or loss in structural and functional components of the affected and surrounding ecosystems. These disturbances may result from natural causes such as fire, floods, drought and wind storms, or from human?related causes associated with use or extraction of natural resources such as mineral extraction, cropping practices, timber harvesting, livestock grazing, pipeline development, roads, power corridors, and waste disposal. Disturbances occur on a wide range of ecosystems ranging from arid rangelands to mesic forests to alpine and arctic tundra. Severe disturbances have allowed the creation and expansion of many invasive non?indigenous species (weedy species) in many ecosystems leading to near monocultures of these species. Some ecosystems are capable of recovering after disturbance through natural successional processes, but some disturbances are so severe or have occurred on fragile ecosystems that require intervention to restore or rehabilitate them, retain quality soils and to reestablish natural ecological processes. WCC?21 was conceived initially to focus on mined?land reclamation, but was expanded to include stabilization and reclamation of all types of land disturbances. The committee has emphasized the application of reclamation technology to the restoration and sustainability of ecosystems and biodiversity. The main goal of reclamation is to protect the soil resource by reducing wind and water erosion while simultaneously reducing air and water pollution. The current focus reflects three of the four Environment and Natural Resources research priorities identified by Western AES Directors in 1994. Currently, federal land management agencies are emphasizing the use of native plants in revegetation, however, this is hindered both by a lack of native seed availability and by technology on how to establish and maintain these native species. WCC?21 is participating in the development of a revegetation decision support system to assist land managers in selecting appropriate species for sites and in using the appropriate establishment methods. The committee compiles information yearly regarding completed and current research efforts by agencies represented on the committee. Each member submits to the secretary an annual report of research and publications. These annual reports are compiled and distributed to the agencies. A poster depicting current research is maintained by the vice?chairperson and made available to members upon request for presentation at regional and national meetings of professionals involved in revegetation and stabilization of lands. Two subcommittees have been formed for the following purpose: (1) develop symposia for professionals regarding revegetation and reclamation technology with emphasis on new science and technology developments; and (2; develop and maintain a list of available reference material generated by its members and educational materials for stabilization and revegetation of deteriorated and altered lands. The committee has developed a home page (http://140.218.193.135/wcc21) on the Internet's World Wide Web to highlight the members, their areas of expertise, and their current research areas Included on the home page is a listing of recent (1990?present) publications that were written by member institutions/ organizations on the subject of revegetation and reclamation.
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