Former Coal Mines Turned Into Beekeeping Havens

Planet Green:

By federal law, coal companies have to restore the land they used back to an as-good-or-better condition than it was in when they started mining. However, that is in terms of commercial value, not ecological value. Coal mining can wreak havoc on a landscape, and then turn that ravaged landscape into something like big box stores or residential housing. But thanks to the efforts of one bee enthusiast by the name of Tammy Horn, there are wide swaths of former coal strip mines that are returning to ecologically diverse forest land, bolstering hope for not only a once-again thriving local ecosystem but also a stronger local economy.

Read the whole story: Planet Green

Comments

[Joan Kark]

06:01 PM on 03/12/2010

As a beekeeper in Appalachia, I don't see this idea as very good. It's much better to keep the original Appalachian forest for the bees. They forage on the poplars, red maples, and other native species. Do you really think it's ok to blow up the mountains, then try to restore the land for bees? Save our mountains

[Norge]

01:01 PM on 02/07/2010

Terrific idea and the bees have been in serious trouble these past several years with their syndrom.

[bgofca]

11:39 AM on 02/07/2010

SWEET!!!

[lotusgirl]

12:34 AM on 02/07/2010

Awesome creativity. The bee population is in serious trouble, something that will make us all starve to death if we don't fix it. This could be an important step in repopulating the bee population.

[tjconkster]

10:26 PM on 02/06/2010

Huh...

[LMPE]

04:20 PM on 02/06/2010

Always "bee" yourself!