A non-profit organization has been restoring thousands of acres of once-surface-mined land to accommodate trees. A nonprofit called Green Forests Work plants trees on land once used for coal mining. It wants to restore ecosystems and eradicate non-native species, while also generating local jobs. The organization has planted more than 3 million trees in the Appalachia region of the eastern United States. Reforestation is vital to mitigating the impact of climate change and improving biodiversity across the world. What happens to coal mines when they’re no longer in use? In Appalachia, United States, one nonprofit has a solution – restoring thousands of acres of once-surface-mined land to their erstwhile natural glory. Kentucky-based Green Forests Work is boosting both the local environment and economy in the region by planting trees on this kind of land. Through this work, it wants to eradicate non-native species, mitigate the impact of climate change and restore ecosystems – while also generating jobs for tree planters, equipment operators and nursery workers. Since 2009, Green Forests Work says it has planted more than 3 million trees across nearly 5,000 acres in the Appalachia region, located in the eastern US, and beyond. Surface mining is a method […]
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