Fading opportunity: vegetative succession and the window for bioenergy crop establishment on reclaimed mine lands in Appalachia

Abstract Surface mining has significantly altered landscapes in Appalachia, impacting forested ecosystems, natural habitats, and water quality. Building on recent regional modeling efforts in Pennsylvania, this study used high‐resolution datasets (2011, 2016, 2020) to assess land cover change and identify operationally feasible post‐mining lands for bioenergy crop development in West Virginia. It identified 9435 ha of postmining land that met suitability criteria, including slope (<15%), low vegetation cover, and at least 2 ha in size. Over the study period, forest cover increased by 8583 ha from 2011 to 2016 and 8448 ha from 2016 to 2020. Of the lands found suitable for bioenergy crop development, the results show that businesses controlled 6880 ha, private individuals 1913 ha, and government entities 518 ha of the identified land. Our analysis provides finer scale insights into where, and under what conditions, bioenergy crop establishment may be feasible. These mine lands are transitioning rapidly from herbaceous cover to shrubland and forest through natural succession, increasing the cost and complexity of bioenergy crop development. As such, the window for lower input biomass establishment is narrowing, making proactive planning and policy support essential.