Hope on the horizon for mining-damaged Appalachia

The Appalachia region of the USA is home to one of earth’s oldest ecosystems, rich in natural beauty and biodiversity. But a century of timber extraction and widespread coal mining have altered the area’s ecosystems

One such example is the coalfields of Eastern Kentucky – located within the Appalachian basin, in an area which stretches from the Allegheny Mountains in the east across the rugged terrains of Daniel Boone National Forest to the Potsville Escarpment in the west. Here, large-scale extraction extraction of natural resources has left a lasting mark on the landscape, the environment and its people, highlighting the urgent need for ecosystem restoration and the adoption of sustainable land-use practices.

The Appalachian Renewal Project  “Renew Appalachia” has been working to restore the 6,557 acres of degraded landscape in and around the “Wolf Creek No 4” reclaimed surface mine since 2018, starting with forest restoration and monitoring initiatives in collaboration with the local community, non-profit organisations and universities. One project designed to support the reforestation work in the area is a tree nursery designed to grow native tree species using local and resilient tree genetics. But why is this important, and how does it work? Let’s dive in.

No. 4 Farm tree nursery named after the Wolf Creek #4 Mine that existed in the same location before its closure

Why native trees matter for reforestation

When it comes to restoring damaged land, planting trees is a common solution.  According to research by Chazdon and Guariguata (2016), planting fast-growing or climate-adaptive tree species can work—if the soil isn’t severely degraded and native plants are still present. But in regions like Appalachia, where mining has devastated ecosystems, these standard methods don’t always work.  Reclaimed mine soils are compacted, and fast-growing non-native ground covers have been introduced to the landscape, making it much harder for trees to survive and thrive.  So, how can we adapt tree planting practices?  Two decades ago a number of universities in the region, including the University of Kentucky, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, began to research this question with the support of the US Department of the Interior, and developed a practice for reforestation of mine land known as the Forest Reclamation Approach, as described by Burger et al (2005) . This body of work allows us to now ask, what more can be done to enhance reforestation efforts in Appalachia?

That’s where native trees come in. Trees that are genetically adapted to the local soil, weather, and environment are more likely to grow strong, adaptive and resilient. Sourcing seeds from “Champion” trees— older trees that have adapted to and survived the local conditions—gives reforestation projects a better chance of long-term success to withstand the conditions these forests will face over the coming decades.

One of the caveats in the incorporation of native trees into agro-forestry practices, investment, policy, insurance, scaling, or adoption in restoration plans, as mentioned by Atkinson et al (2021) is the delivery of seed supply.

“The genetic quality of planting material has three main dimensions: (i) ensuring adaptedness to the current and future environmental conditions of a given planting site; (ii) promoting the long-term viability and resilience of restored populations; and (iii) favoring genetically based desirable traits (e.g., straight stems for timber production).” Atkinson et al (2021)

For long-term success of reforestation efforts, Ting N. (2024) also emphasises that mismatched genetic traits when used in plantation may struggle to survive especially in differing or harsh climates and severely degraded soils. Thus, using the forest reproductive materials (like seeds, cuttings, stakes, wildlings, etc) genetically adapted to the climatic and soil conditions of the target region, has higher likelihood of survival and thus offers higher resilience.

By focusing on native genetics, reforestation efforts can ensure better survival rates and stronger ecosystems.

The No. 4 Farm’s tree nursery, developed and managed by Renew Appalachia with support from Terraformation and Archangel Ancient Tree Archive

How is Renew Appalachia helping?

Renew Appalachia is turning these principles into action. Their No. 4 Farm nursery project in Martin County (established on reclaimed land from the Wolf creek Number 4 coal mine) is a prime example of how native tree genetics can help restore a damaged ecosystem. The core idea is to create a space for growing, testing, learning, knowledge sharing and reforesting with native tree genetics. Here’s what makes their approach stand out:

1. Local Roots: By using locally-sourced seeds, Renew Appalachia ensures that the trees they plant are adapted to the specific needs of the region.
2. Community Involvement: The project is a community-driven effort. Renew Appalachia partners with local farmers, business owners, youth groups, and organizations to grow, maintain, and nurture these trees.
3. Sustainability: The nursery isn’t just about planting trees—it’s about creating lasting, sustainable jobs, knowledge, and a stronger connection between the local community and its environment

The end goal for Renew Appalachia is to reach out to all homestead farms, youth groups and community members in the region and share their knowledge and instill hope to restore their once-scarred lands. For this vision, they have adopted the framework of Four Returns. It is a stakeholder-driven approach which utilises shared interests of local community members in living and working in healthy ecosystems. Here’s how it works:

The 4-Returns Framework of Commonland. Source: Commonland

1. Building partnerships: Renew Appalachia partnered with or received guidance from a number of organizations with deep technical expertise in nursery and mine land reforestation activities.  Terraformation provided funds to begin the development of the No 4. Farm nursery and provided guidance on local seed collection.  Archangel Ancient Tree Archives has provided technical expertise on native and champion tree genetics and seed collection.  Finally, Renew Appalachia’s reforestation work – planting ~1,000 acres and ~1,000,000 trees – was started in partnership with  Green Forests Work, the leading organization of Appalachian mine land reforestation.
2. Shared understanding:  Renew Appalachia has worked with members of the local community to better understand their needs and helped to grow their interest and trust in the solutions to help heal the local ecosystem.
3. Vision for the future: Renew Appalachia has developed a holistic, long-term plan for the land’s restoration, which includes collaboration with community members, non-profits, and university partners for monitoring and further the restoration efforts.
4. Effective action: The project’s hands-on approach includes everything from planting to maintaining  the nursery and creating jobs in the process. Inspired by a community initiative developed by Releaf Michigan, Renew Appalachia plans to engage with area residents to help identify local champion trees and to collect the fallen seeds from critical species such as white oak (pressured by harvesting for the production of Bourbon barrels) and crab apple (which provide habitat for threatened bat species).
5. Ongoing learning: With the help from Kentucky State University and others, including Ecosystem Restoration Communities, the land’s restoration progress will be monitored over time with the intention to learn from, adapt, and improve restoration interventions being deployed.

How the nursery works: from seeds to trees

Since launching in 2023, the No 4. Farm nursery has been refining its process for nurturing tree species that are best-suited to the local environment. Here’s how the process works:

1. Collecting Champion Tree Seeds: Local community members help gather seeds from resilient “Champion” trees—native species that have survived the harsh conditions of the Appalachian coalfields.

L – R: Collection of champion white oak acorns & local black walnut seeds

2. Germination and Growth: The seeds are carefully prepared and treated to encourage germination.  The treatments needed are species specific.  To make the seeds ready to sprout, some species require special ‘stratification’ periods (mimicking winter conditions), others may require ‘scarification’ (degrading the hard shell of the seed), some may require both, and others may require neither!

 Building beds for plantation

3. Nurturing Young Trees: Once the seeds begin to sprout, they are carefully nurtured in the nursery until they are ready for planting.

Maintenance in the No. 4 Farm nursery

4. Community Jobs: As the nursery grows, local community members take on jobs in management, training, and customer relations, helping the project thrive.

Expanding the vision: more than just trees for restoration

Renew Appalachia vision also includes growing fruit and nut trees like pecans, peaches, and cherries—plants that serve both the environment and local communities. They’re even experimenting with pawpaw trees in collaboration with Kentucky State University, a unique fruit bearing tree native to Kentucky and important to local culture, in order to understand growth and sustainability of this species on reclaimed mine lands.

Beyond the nursery, Renew Appalachia’s aim is to support the growth of farming locally. With the help of permaculture training and resources, these farmers are learning to restore their land and build sustainable, healthy farms for future generations.

Does it work?

Absolutely. The local community has begun to see the positive impacts of Renew Appalachia’s work. With better tree growth and the promise of a restored ecosystem, people are gaining hope for the future. Community members are taking part in permaculture training, and organizations are collaborating to help expand restoration efforts. Universities are supporting research into native trees, and more and more people are coming on board to help bring Appalachia back to life.

Number 4 Tree Nursery will soon be blooming with new trees grown from the locally-sourced seeds of ‘Champion trees’

What’s next for Renew Appalachia?

While progress is being made, challenges remain. The coal industry once provided secure jobs for the Appalachian people, but as mining took over farmland, valuable skills were lost. Renew Appalachia is working to show that reforestation can be both an economic and ecological success. By creating job opportunities, providing training, and showcasing the positive outcomes of reforestation, they’re hoping to inspire a new generation to take part in restoring their land.

However, financial hurdles still stand in the way. Renew Appalachia relies on supporters to keep the nursery running and growing.  If you’re interested in supporting this effort, they’re open to training, partnerships, and the retail and wholesale purchase of their champion trees!

In Conclusion: A Greener Future for Appalachia

Renew Appalachia is working to be a beacon of hope for the region. With native tree restoration, community involvement, and sustainable practices, they’re showing that even the most damaged landscapes can heal. By focusing on long-term, resilient solutions, they’re setting the stage for a greener, healthier Appalachia – a legacy for generations to come.

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Learn more about the restoration work at ERC Renew Appalachia

Articles cited: (APA 6)

1. Chazdon, R. L., & Guariguata, M. R. (2016). Natural regeneration as a tool for large-scale forest restoration in the tropics: prospects and challenges. Biotropica, 48(6), 716–730. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12381
2. Burger, J., Graves, D., Angel, P., Davis, V., Zipper, C. (2005).  The Forest Reclamation Approach.  U.S. Office of Surface Mining.  Forest Reclamation Advisory No 2,  http://arri.osmre.gov/fra.htm
3. Atkinson, R. J., Thomas, E., Roscioli, F., Cornelius, J. P., Zamora-Cristales, R., Franco Chuaire, M., Alcázar, C., Mesén, F., Lopez, H., Ipinza, R., Donoso, P. J., Gallo, L., Nieto, V., Ugarte, J., Sáenz-Romero, C., Fremout, T., Jalonen, R., Gaisberger, H., Vinceti, B., & Valette, M. (2021). Seeding Resilient Restoration: An Indicator System for the Analysis of Tree Seed Systems. Diversity, 13(8), 367. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13080367
4. Ting N. (2024). The Role of Forest Genetics in Enhancing Reforestation Success and Ecosystem Restoration. Journal of Forest Research, 13(6), 548. https://doi.org/10.35248/2168-9776.24.13.548

Image: Strip mining for coal between Virginia and Kentucky, USA. Author provided.