Government: The Government's perception of successful reclamation may be different than that of the landowner or the operator or any of the other interest groups or all of them. It is not the government's role to necessarily please either the landowner or the operator. Rather, our role is to ensure that disturbed land is returned to its pre-disturbance state or equivalent so that the land
base of Alberta will be maintained for the full benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations of Albertans.
Industry: The Coal Association of Canada representing Coal Mining Operators in the mountains, foothills and plains of this Province has long stated the view that reclamation success is built of two parts:
1. Compliance with the Development and Reclamation Plan; and
2. The understanding that assumptions made in the plan are well founded and produce reclaimed land equivalent in capability to the land before mining.
Biologist: The success of reclamation practices should be viewed from the ecosystem viewpoint, in particular that above-ground processes (primary production) and below-ground processes (organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling) must be efficiently linked.
Landscape Architect: Landscape Architecture is a profession concerned with creating useful and beautiful places in harmony with the natural processes of the environment. As such, it plays an integral role in the planning and design of living spaces - a role that has become more relevant today than ever before. Among planning and design professionals, Landscape Architects are unique in working from a foundation in both the natural and social sciences. A knowledge of ecology, biology, horticulture and the humanities allows Landscape Architects to link human needs to natural systems. Reclamation projects provide landscape architects with the opportunity to create or re-create landscapes to serve different functions.
Public: There is still a public perception that reclamation is bad. This is not usually the case, although it still happens. Rather, the public does not want to see any disturbance in favorite recreation areas and they will have a negative attitude because of landscape impacts or subtle wildlife impacts, even though reclamation results in adequate vegetation cover, well-controlled soil erosion, high water quality, and enhancement of habitat for some wildlife.