Lignite is a major energy resource in Texas; as the demand for energy re-
sources grows and reserves of oil and gas dwindle, lignite will become the major
fuel potential in the State. That lignite which is strippable by present technology
occurs in two northeast-trending bands in East Texas (fig. 1); 10.4 billion short
tons covering approximately 1 million acres are potentially available for strip
mining (Kaiser, 1974).

One of the major environmental problems encountered in utilization of
strippable lignite is the disturbance of natural and cultivated plant communities.
Therefore, a general survey of the East Texas vegetational regions - the Post Oak
Belt and the Pineywoods - was conducted in order to determine the extent and com-
plexity of present biologic assemblages and the manner by which they might be
affected by strip mining.