My name is Enrique Unruh, and I am a fourth-year student majoring in Global Development Studies and Statistics. This summer, I had the pleasure of participating in the Tadler Summer Fellowship Program. Sponsored by Social Entrepreneurship at UVA, this program seeks to connect UVA students with social entrepreneurial and/or impact investing organizations in Appalachia. The Tadler Fellowship intends to bring attention to an opportunity-rich region often overlooked by private and public organizations.
Through the fellowship, I interned with Appalachian Voices in Norton, Virginia. As a grassroots environmental and community organizing nonprofit, Appalachian Voices tackles a number of issues impacting the Central Appalachian region, including the transition from coal-based economies to renewable energies, pipeline construction, and other environmental protections.
During my internship, I focused on the reforestation of abandoned mining land. Specifically, I wrote 20-page report that examined the potential of a Payment for Ecosystem Services program to fund mining land reclamation. To provide context, Congress passed the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977 in response to widespread presence of abandoned mining land. To ensure the future reclamation of mining projects, SMCRA mandated that coal companies put aside funds into reclamation bonds, which are claimed by regulatory agencies if coal companies fail to complete their own reclamation. Unfortunately, SMCRA failed to account for the swift decline of the coal industry, and now, coal companies are considering it cheaper to forfeit bonds and forgo reclamation. Because of this, Appalachian Voices has been researching the amount of funding needed to clean up abandoned mine lands and analyzing alternative means of accomplishing reclamation. One such possibility is implementing a Payment for Ecosystem Services scheme, which is the focus of the report I wrote.
Overall, I loved my experience with Appalachian Voices and encourage everyone to check out and support the great work the organization is doing. Although COVID forced my internship to be virtual, I still appreciated the time I spent working and chatting with my bosses and co-workers on Zoom. Through the job, I learned so much about grassroots environmental organizing, community-based development, and creative financing. I am incredibly grateful to Appalachian Voices and the Tadler Fellowship for the opportunity to complete this internship. As I complete my academic studies and begin my professional journey, I hope to take with me the lessons gained over the past summer.