Central Appalachia

       The central Appalachians are essentially West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. The economy of central Appalachia depends in great part to the extraction of coal and clear-cutting. The central Appalachians are 89% covered with forests and the region consists of narrow valleys and mountains that have experienced damage from surface mining.  Most counties in the central Appalachians are isolated because of the region mountainous terrain. The central Appalachians are considered the most impoverish region in the Appalachians partly due to some mountainous areas being inaccessible and hindering trade. The Central Appalachians are considered a rural region with a population of about 7.5 million. 

Brief History

In the late 1860's Central Appalachia started to industrialize. It started with the introduction of railroads which gave access to certain regions in the Central Appalachians. West Virginia was the first to introduce railroads and by 1893 there were three major railroads in West Virginia that allowed timber companies to mobilize timber. By 1909 United States received almost 50% of hardwoods from the Appalachians. After, timber companies started major clear-cutting of virgin timber which affected the ecosystem in the Central Appalachians. Presently, the central Appalachians forests have regenerated and 90% of the forest land is privately owned. 

Due to the OPEC cartel, energy companies saw profit on the extraction of coal and the mining areas in the central Appalachians. In 1970's energy companies started to extract coal in the Central Appalachians which provided economic stimulus and more jobs to this area. Since that time surface mining and mountaintop removal, which is a certain type of surface mining, has become a major industry in central Appalachia. Today, the central Appalachians produce nearly 60% of the nation’s coal. In fact, West Virginia is the second largest coal provider. 

Central Appalachians - Before

Central Appalachians - Now

Impact

The coal companies may provide jobs and higher income to individuals living in the Central Appalachians, but it has created greater environmental damage. The impact of coal companies using surface mining has been extreme. It  has created five environmental damages. First, water pollution affecting every user of water either residents or corporations. Second, poor water quality  which affects the fish, wildlife and recreation. Third, flooding and soil erosion. Fourth, damage to land structure and buildings. Finally, aesthetic damage: the water being muddy and discoloration of water because of acid mine drainage. 

Mountaintop mining areas

Affected quality of air, surface and ground water which in the end affects the individuals living in central Appalachia.

Kentucky - Now after the effects of coal mines

  

Benefits

The ecosystem provides 60% of the nation’s coal. It also provides timber, oil and natural gas. 

Protected Areas and Status

Some areas in the Central Appalachians are protected by the Nature Conservancy which is an organization that protects important lands and waters for future generations. Some protected lands are:

• Virginia – Clinch Valley

The clinch valley consists of three free-flowing rivers. The Clinch, Powell and Holston rivers. These rivers have the highest number of rare fish and freshwater mussels. The Nature Conservancy wants to protect the Clinch valley from water pollution, and protect streams from coal mining. The status of this ecosystem is good because 71% of the clinch valley is protected and 20,000 acres are in the Conservation Forestry Program.

• Tennessee – the Cumberland Plateau

It is recognized as the longest hardwood forested plateau containing a great variety of species. The status of this ecosystem is good, but residential development is threatening the ecosystem. Residential development may affect the water quality because of septic systems, and runoff from roads.

• Virginia – Warm Springs Mountain

It is a significant forest in the Central Appalachians and it has been preserved by the Nature Conservancy for 10 years. This area includes globally rare montane pine barren and provides a habitat for rare plants. The status is excellent. The Nature Conservancy is trying to improve their strategies for conservation in the Warm Springs Mountain

• West Virginia – Smoke Hole/ North Fork Mountain

The largest concentrations of diversity with 120 rare species. It contains wild animals and a 11 mile long smoke hole. The status is bad because the ecosystem is changing. The development of vacation homes in Smoke Hole/North Fork Mountain has already eliminated 95% of the limestone forests and now non-native weeds are invading. The Nature Conservancy is taking action by planning on reducing competition of non-native weeds and implementing public understanding of the importance of this ecosystem.

• West Virginia – Canaan Valley/ Dolly Sods

Canaan Valley/ Dolly Sods is recognized as  the best know high country with the highest large valley and the largest wetlands. Also, It is the most visited in West Virginia. The status is bad because of an insect pest introduced accidentally from Asia. The struggle of red spruce to come back because of the extreme logging in the past in the Canaan Valley/Dolly Sods area and the construction of a freeway has caused this protected area to deteriorate. The Nature Conservancy will work with the government to conserve what is left form this area. 

In the Future

1Q08 are the sells per ton in 2008 and 1Q07 the sells per ton in 2007 in Central Appalachia  This graphs shows that coal extraction is going to increase because it's value is increasing. 

Graph provided from Arch Coal website. Arch Coal is the top producer and marketer of coal. 

In the future this ecosystem will suffer form more surface mining such as mountaintop removal. The increase of coal mining will cause more environmental devastation. The only difference from the past is that the mining industry can rely on outside workers and also can relocate when the natural resources are scarce in the area. When coal companies relocate they leave roads and buildings in destruction. Also, if coal companies decided to move it will affect the infrastructure of the Central Appalachians because they provide money for the creation of roads and buildings to keep down their own tax base and operating costs low because with roads they can mobilize easily and construction is done because tax base will be reduced. Also, investment capital will disappear.

Maintain Balance 

A balance between the people and the ecosystem can be accomplished by reducing coal mining or finding the least harmful way of extracting coal from the ecosystem. An increase of tourism to the central Appalachians can improve the unemployment rate in the Central Appalachians. The central Appalachians have rough terrains which can be used as a golf course or for hiking and the protected areas which can be used to market the Central Appalachians. If central Appalachians' counties get together and establish tourism in the area it will encourage the creation of restaurants and hotels which would benefit the people in central Appalachia. Most young adults migrate because there is a poor system of education, so improving education can prevent out-migration from happening. 

Reference List

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Fraley, Jill M. 2012. “The Political Rhetoric of Property and Natural Resource Ownership: A Meditation on Chance, Taxation and Appalachia.” Society & Natural Resources 25, no. 2: 127-140. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 23, 2012)

Sarnoff, Susan. “Central Appalachia—Still the Other America.” Journal of Poverty 7, no. ½ (March 2003): 123. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 24, 3012)

Nature Conservancy Protecting Nature, Preserving Life <http://www.nature.org/>

Images 

1. http://www.arc.gov/research/MapsofAppalachia.asp?MAP_ID=31

2. http://www.appalachiancommunityfund.org/html/aboutcentralA.html

3. http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2531/4131952758_7860cdea6a_z.jpg

4. http://grist.org/coal/2011-06-28-kentucky-coal-companies-remind-us-why-we-really-really-need/

5. http://news.archcoal.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=107109&p=irolnewsArticle&ID=1139749&highlight=