**Indiana AML Program Increasing Reforestation**

**Christopher Turpin -- IN**

*Spring 2008*

Professional reclamation started in Indiana with the Coal Lands
Forester. Much of his work is still seen and enjoyed in the southwestern
coal region. Towering pines and hardwoods offer countless recreational
opportunities for residents and valuable timber for the economy. In more
recent years though, there has

been less interest in returning mined land to forest. This lack of
interest had mostly been due to economic restraints, post 1977
reclamation laws, and landowner wishes. There has been a change in
interest among landowners and restoration staff however, that has
brought the spirit of the coal lands forester back to the Indiana AML
Program.

![](media/image1.wmf){width="4.697916666666667in" height="3.5in"}

In 1999 meetings were arranged between Sycamore Trails Resource
Conservation and Development Council, the Indiana

Division of Forestry, forestry professionals, and Restoration Section

staff. These meetings brought new ideas, better tree planting

techniques, and increased available planting areas.

Soon, good tree planting contracts were in place and plantings were
looking much better. By 2001 the number of trees planted by the AML
program had nearly doubled and in 2002 the potential for even more

plantings increased with the inception of the Reclamation Re-Leaf
Program. This is a state funded program administered through the
Divisions of Reclamation and Forestry. Re-Leaf encourages owners of land
that was mined after 1977 to be forest stewards. It does this through a
cost-share that returns the landowners investment after they complete
prescribed care to planted trees over a three year period.

The increase in tree plantings brought a need for an area to test new
ideas and increase understanding of growing trees on reclaimed land. Out
of this need Site 1700 was born. This site, also known as the Dugger
Unit of Greene-Sullivan State Forest, consists of about 300 acres of
post 1977 mined land. The Dugger Unit has been set aside as a
demonstration area for studying successful reforestation of reclaimed
land. Since its formation there have been 10 test plantings and 2
university studies performed on the site.

![](media/image2.wmf){width="4.697916666666667in"
height="3.5in"}Techniques for the control of exotic invasive species, to
the benefits of nutrient loading tree seedlings in the nursery, have
been tested at the site. A field day is held at the site each year to
promote an information exchange between Federal, State, and local
officials as

well as citizens. Site 1700 has been a great success and has provided

government organizations, schools, and private landowners valuable
information.

Since 1999 the new tree planting program has planted over 1.2 million
trees on Indiana's reclaimed coal fields and grows this figure by about
140,000 trees a year. These trees provide wildlife habitat, protect soil
and water resources, and will contribute to Indiana's economy in the
future. The success of the program can

be attributed to cooperation between the committed staffs of the Indiana
Division of Forestry, Indiana Division of Reclamation, and the
enthusiastic residents of the Hoosier state.

*Article originally published in the National Association of Abandoned
Mine Land Programs Newsletter, Spring 2008*

**Christopher Turpin - IN**⨪