Reforesting Previously Mined Land in Appalachia
The Cumberland River Compact’s Mine Land Reforestation program works with private landowners in Kentucky and Tennessee to reforest land that has been improperly restored after mining activities ceased.
Coal mining, heavy machinery, and inadequate restoration efforts have left swaths of land nearly barren, covered in invasive shrubs and stunted trees that fail to thrive in the compacted and acidic soil. The Compact restores native forests on this land to improve soil health and stormwater absorption, mitigate flooding, improve habitat for wildlife, and enhance water quality downstream from the previously mined sites.
Opportunity for Landowners
The Compact is currently seeking new previously mined sites to restore. If you own land in the Cumberland River basin and/or the Appalachian region of eastern Kentucky and Tennessee that has been degraded by previous coal mining activities, please contact us to learn more about restoration. Ideal parcels are 30+ acres with compacted soil, stunted trees, and invasive species.
Stay Informed
Keep up to date on Mine Land Reforestation projects by subscribing to the Cumberland River Compact’s newsletter, Streamlines.