Now Reading: Ohio family turns 60-acre mine scar into forest for US 250th
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Ohio family turns 60-acre mine scar into forest for US 250th
A family in Jackson County, Ohio, has restored a 60-acre former coal mine into a native forest to mark America’s 250th anniversary. The land, abandoned for over two decades, was reclaimed through…
The Story in Brief
A family in Jackson County, Ohio, has restored a 60-acre former coal mine into a native forest to mark America’s 250th anniversary. The land, abandoned for over two decades, was reclaimed through the Ohio Abandoned Mine Land Program and the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative. About 700 native tree seedlings per acre were planted this spring, with the family hand-planting a 2-acre section. The project began in 2021 when the landowners sought help from foresters during the pandemic. The U.S. Department of the Interior’s surface mining office reports the site now supports wildlife, improved soil, and serves as a model for restoring degraded lands across Appalachia.
The Indian Opinion
This story could easily be spun as just another feel-good American anniversary gimmick. But the hard numbers, 700 seedlings per acre, five years of planning, and state-federal cooperation, show genuine ecological rehabilitation. The real test for similar Indian reclamation projects, such as those on abandoned coal blocks, will be whether they match this scientific rigour and long-term commitment. How many of our own mined lands will see native forests within a decade? That is the question.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
