Ohio planted nearly 7.2 million trees on more than 5,500 acres of abandoned mines; barren ground began turning back into forest

Across the hills of eastern and southeastern Ohio, thousands of acres that were once stripped by coal mining are now being transformed into thriving forests. What were once barren spoil piles and compacted soils on abandoned mine lands are currently home to millions of native trees because of one of the largest mine reforestation efforts in the United States. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), the state’s reforestation initiative has planted nearly 7.2 million trees across more than 5,500 acres of abandoned mine land, thus restoring habitats, improving water quality and helping the degraded landscapes recover. Notably, the programme highlights how ecological restoration can reverse decades of damage caused by surface mining while shaping healthier forests for future generations.

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