The Kedrovskiy Cut

Located about 20 km north of the City of Kemerovo, this surface mine has been open for more than 40 years.  Pictured below is one of the main coal pits.

Natural afforestation is pictured below.  The spoil here was abandoned about 30-40 years ago, and this natural birch-aspen forest developed on this site.  The large mounds visible in this picture are weathered boulders.

Scots pine reclamation.  Along with sea-hawthorn, scots pine is the major tree species replanted after the overburden (spoil) is returned during a reclamation project.

An abandoned coal pit that has filled with water.  Erosion of the steep slopes continues unabated in this small mining pit which is approximately 1 km long and 1/2 km across.  Natural afforestation is taking place only on the natural terraces in the slopes.

A failed scots pine reclamation project.  95% of the pine seedlings in this project have died, due to improper planting and adverse spoil conditions.

Recent natural afforestation of abandoned spoil.  This spoil was placed here by large dump trucks in loose piles approximately 5-10 years ago.  Weathering has broken the rocks into a suitable substrate for forest development and natural afforestation of scots pine, birch, and aspen is occurring with an average stem count of 1400 trees per hectare.