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THE BARNESVILLE Area Reforestation Kommittee staged its sixth annual tree planting west of Barnesville on April 18 with a group of more than 200 volunteers planting some 3,000 mixed hardwood trees on reclaimed coal mine ground.

The planting took place on Oxford Mining ground that was reclaimed according to the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) standards.

At the 2009 BARK planting, the BARK Kommittee received the Regional ARRI Award for Excellence in Reforestation for its efforts to plant high-valued hardwoods on reclaimed mine ground. The BARK Kommittee, with help of many individuals, business, church groups, scout clubs and school groups, has planted more than 27,800 mixed hardwoods on reclaimed mine ground.

In 2008, Oxford Mining was the recipient of the Excellence in Reforestation Award for their efforts to reclaim coal ground according to ARRI standards.

The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative is a cooperative effort among Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia; the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement; their partners in industry; environmental organizations, academia; local, state, and federal government agencies as well as local citizens.

The two main goals of ARRI is to plant more high-value hardwood trees on reclaimed coal mined lands in Appalachia and increase the survival rates and growth rates of planted trees.

"We have seen the survival ability and growth rates improve immensely since planting on the reclaimed ground that was reclaimed according to the ARRI standards," said Nathan Taylor Wildlife/Forestry Specialist Belmont Soil and Water Conservation District and BARK member.

BARK members include Marie Bundy, Jim and Paula Grear, Shelley Rockwell, Jeremy Scherf, Service Forester-ODNR Division of Forestry, and Nathan Taylor Wildlife/Forestry Specialist, Belmont Soil and Water Conservation District

The BARK Kommittee would like to thank everyone who came out and gave of their time, money, and effort for this great project. Without the help of many individuals, businesses, church groups, scout clubs, and school groups this project would not be possible.

BARK is in the planning stages for next year's tree planting and hope to have a site west of Barnesville for the spring of 2010. For more information, contact Nathan Taylor, Belmont SWCD at 740-425-1100 Ext. 110.