All Hardwood Forestry Fund planting projects require a sustainable management plan. In this way, we know that the trees will be cared for and will be available to meet the natural resource needs of future generations.

A Few Sample Project Profiles:

Sproul State Forest, Centre County, PA

Each spring since 1993, the Hardwood Forestry Fund has partnered with the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to plant trees at the site of the 10,000 acre Two Rock Run Wildfire. PA Bureau of Forestry staff prepares the site and digs holes for the trees. Penn ReLeaf volunteers, Bucktail High School students, Loch Haven High School students and Penn State University volunteers plant the trees.

This site utilizes tree shelters to protect young seedlings from heavy deer browse. Trees planted include red oak, black cherry, and white ash. Major benefits are wildlife habitat enhancement, future timber crops, and watershed protection.

[Project manager, Norman Lacasse, stands next to 3-year old black cherry tree planted by volunteers.] Photo courtesy of PA-DCNR, Bureau of Forestry

Tri-Valley Wildlife Area, Muskingum County, Ohio

The ongoing partnership with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources reclaims surface coal-mined lands at three sites managed by the Division of Wildlife. Acreage is prepared for planting by Division of Wildlife personnel. Local volunteers, who want to help reforest an area that is now grassland, plant trees. Hardwood Forestry Fund members have enabled the planting of more than 35,000 trees at three reclamation sites. Trees planted include red oak, white oak, pin oak, and green ash.

[Photograph shows some of the 100 tree planting volunteers who braved bad weather to plant trees.] Photo courtesy of ODNR- Division of Wildlife

Maumee State Forest, Fulton County, Ohio

Dunipace Woods is a mixture of forested and open land. It was donated by Dunipace family members to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to expand the Maumee State Forest.

The Hardwood Forestry Fund provided funding to plant ten acres of open space in native hardwoods. More than 5000 trees were planted in 1997. Tree species include native hardwoods like: butternut, red oak, white oak, black walnut, white ash, sugar maple, tulip poplar, shagbark hickory, and others.

Ron Abraham, chief of ODNR Division of Forestry says, "Dunipace Woods will be managed for special habitat, recreation, wildlife, timber, and soil and water conservation, while ensuring the health of the forest for future generations." The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry uses the area as a demonstration forest. It is open to the public and is available for private landowners to use as an educational site to learn about reforestation practices.

[Photo shows tractor-driven tree planting machine in operation at Dunipace Woods.] Photo courtesy of ODNR- Division of Forestry

Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center, Dubois, IN

In naturally regenerated areas, gaps often develop where prolific vine and brush growth have prevented establishment of healthy trees. At the Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center, foresters are researching supplemental tree planting as a way of "filling in" gaps to ensure maximum stocking of high quality trees.

The Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultual Center is a demonstration facility. Field tours educate forestry professionals, forest landowners, and school children on forest research and management.

The Hardwood Forestry Fund grant helps plant white oak, black oak and red oak. Many of these trees will be planted with tree shelters to determine the effectiveness of shelters on enhancing seedling establishment and hastening height growth.

[Photo shows project manager, Ron Rathfon (in hat) discussing tree planting with volunteer Hardwood Forestry Fund Board of Directors Chairman, Jim Martin.]

Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA), Denton County, TX

The Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area project is in Phase II of a three year educational program. Project partners include the University of North Texas, the Texas Forest Service and Lewisville Independent School District. Project manager, Margaret Forbes says, "This projects restores a bottomland hardwood area, involves the community in the effort and promotes local land stewardship. In addition, important information will be generated about the most efficient way to reforest hardwood species in our region."

The Triangle Pacific Corp, an Armstrong Company, provided funding for the planting. Triangle Pacific Corp. employees and their families also joined with other community volunteers in the planting effort.

Tree species chosen for this project include shumard oak, bur oak, green ash, chinkapin, and hickory. These trees are chosen based on site conditions, timber quality, and wildlife benefits.

[Photograph shows volunteer tree planters from Brownie Troop 1550. Photo courtesy of LLELA staff.]