Establishment of an Environmental and Ecological System by Afforestation on the Coal Ash Reclaimed Surface Subsidence Areas in Huaibei Coal Mine and an Analysis for Its Benefits
淮北煤矿塌陷区粉煤灰复田营林生态环境体系的建立

An artificial ecosystem has been created by afforestation on the reclaimed surface subsidence areas covered with coal ash in Huaibei Coal Mine, Anhui Province. In this paper, analysed and discussed are the benefits that such an ecosystem has brought about, including the effects for shelter from wind, for retaining the blowed dust, for regulating the local climate, and for uptaking the harmful substances from the covered coal ash. It has been found by field survey and measurement that in the woodland with relatively sparse tree stands, the wind speed has been reduced by 17.4-41.6%; the blowed dust has been retained by 28.05%; the ground temperature lowered by 3.2-7.5 C; and the air tempereature lowered by 2.5-9.3 C. The additional benefits include improving the environmental quality, eliminating the pollution by coal ash from power stations, reclaiming the surface subsidence areas, and other social, economic, environmental and ecological benefits.