Points of Progress: Elk return to strip mining sites, and more

1. United States

Elk have returned to Kentucky, providing an economic boost to 16 counties of coal country. Elk were once common in the western part of the state, but development pushed away many native game species by the 20th century. In eastern Kentucky, mining’s mountaintop removal process decimated local landscapes and ecosystems, but as the industry has receded, it has left behind a new landscape of uninhabited, grassy plateaus where elk can thrive.

Through an aggressive reintroduction effort, the reclaimed mines are now home to roughly