Mine Land Reforestation

The Division is leading the effort in Ohio to advance reforestation on active coal mines using the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA), an unconventional reclamation method that improves reforestation success.

Historically, the vast majority of Ohio's mine land was returned to pasture--not to forests--largely because successful reforestation has been difficult to achieve. Typically, once an area has been mined, soils are left compacted, severely limiting the ability of tree seedlings to grow and survive when traditional planting methods are used.

Ohio's representatives to the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI), a cooperative effort that encourages reforestation on reclaimed coal mines in the Eastern United States, are working with ODNR's mining regulators to reevaluate mining and reclamation methods in order to promote tree planting.

Reevaluation has allowed mine operators to reclaim mine sites without compacting soil and to benefit from cost-effective regulatory compliance. Through the willingness of landowners and the cooperation of mine operators, the FRA creates productive forests that generate value for landowners and provide watershed protection, wildlife habitat and other environmental services.

“It is encouraging to see cooperation among state and federal regulators and mine operators working on such an important reforestation initiative,” said Cathryn Loucas, ODNR deputy director. “Although agricultural land is very important as a post-mining land use, we need to recognize that forest lands provide a significant commercial and environmental value to the citizens of the state.”

The Jockey Hollow East Mine in Harrison County is the first mine site in Ohio where the FRA was used to reclaim a coal mine to a forest. It received the 2007 Mineral Resources Award for Coal Mining Reclamation and the Excellence in Reforestation Award from the Ohio ARRI team.

For more information, contact Jeff Emmons in DMRM’s Cambridge office at 740-439-9079 or Mike Hiscar, Office of Surface Mining, Columbus office at 614-416-2238.