Land Restoration and Reclamation : Principles and Practice

This concise yet comprehensive text provides a coherent and practical framework for the study and practice of land restoration and reclamation. It sets out the fundamental workings of the natural environment - terrestrial ecosystems, nutrient cycling and soil structure and gives an account of how these may be assessed, how they become degraded and the variety of processes available for reclamation and restoration; ranging from agro-forestry to the re-establishment of fully self-sustaining ecosystems.

Mining, quarrying, construction and other related industries change the natural environment by degrading and contaminating land, which may then require reclamation and restoration for agricultural, conservation or amenity use.

This comprehensive text provides a coherent and practical framework for the study and practice of land restoration and reclamation. It sets out the fundamental workings of the natural environment - the terrestrial ecosystems, nutrient cycling and soil structure. It then goes on to give an account of how these may be assessed, how they become degraded and the variety of processes available for reclamation and restoration; ranging from agro-forestry to the re-establishment of fully self-sustaining ecosystems.

Land Restoration and Reclamation provides:

- a practical approach to this multidisciplinary subject, providing a balance of theory, research and practice
- an up-to-date account, referring to changing reclamation trends and current practices
- global examples with suggestions for further research and socio-economic programmes
- references to a wide range of literature, including material which would not otherwise be available
- over 70 illustrations to complement and elucidate the text

Land Restoration and Reclamation is written for senior undergraduate and postgraduate students taking courses in Restoration Ecology, Applied Ecology, Land or Soil Reclamation and related courses in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Landscape Architecture and Soil Science degrees. It is also a valuable resource for professionals dealing with land restoration and reclamation issues.

Dr. James Harris is currently Head of Environmental Sciences Research Unit, and Reader in Environmental Sciences, at the University of East London, UK. Paul Birch is Professor in the Faculty of Applied Science and Computing, University of Luton, UK. Dr John Palmer is presently Chairman of the British Land Reclamation Society and Deputy Managing Director, Richards, Moorehead and Laing Limited.