Green Forests Work Inc

Green Forests Work's mission is to reforest surface mined lands throughout Appalachia with native species in ways that restore a variety of ecosystem services while providing current and future economic opportunities for the people of the region.

How does GFW work?

Decades of research at several regional universities (UK, VT, WVU, UT, etc.) have produced a set of practices that result in very high survival and growth rates of sensitive, native tree species on reclaimed Appalachian mined lands, and this research has been applied on-the-ground by Green Forests Work since 2009. The practices which enable successful mined land reforestation generally consist of the following multi-step process:

1) Control non-native and invasive vegetation by mechanical removal, targeted herbicide use, or both;

2) Mitigate compaction by deep ripping the ground with a 3-4' long ripping shank pulled by a large bulldozer or excavator;

3) Properly plant native, mostly hardwood tree species, including The American Chestnut Foundation's Restoration Chestnut;

4) Perform follow-up analysis and management as necessary.

By following these steps, GFW is converting highly compromised lands back into healthy and productive native forests. Productive forestland is a renewable resource that enriches us all. The environmental benefits derived from Green Forests Work projects include the following:

• Sequestering and accumulating carbon on available and mostly unused lands

• Improvement of downstream water quality and air quality

• Increasing plant diversity 

• Providing habitat for endangered and declining species, including pollinators, and enhancing habitat for several game species

Reforestation will also provide a wide range of economic benefits to local communities:

• Creation of feedstock base for sustainable wood products industry

• Jobs for the local economy through site prep, tree planting, management, and support

• Tourism-based revenue

• Potential carbon sequestration and environmental improvement credits