At Lake Pleasant Conservation Area in northwestern Pennsylvania, a 100-acre former gravel mine is being reforested with 70,000 native hardwoods. Led by Bosland Growth and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the project is part of a broader effort to restore over 2,800 acres of degraded mine land across the region. Tree species were selected to match varied site conditions, from upland white pine and red maple to moisture-tolerant sycamore and swamp white oak.

Compacted post-mining soils pose a major barrier to reforestation, prompting deep ripping to improve root penetration. To further support early tree establishment and long-term health, the project includes two experimental treatments: fungal microbiomes and biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More.

Funga, a biotech company, is applying soil microbiome restoration techniques using fungal-rich forest soil. By analyzing DNA from healthy sites and using predictive models, Funga identified beneficial fungal partners to inoculate new plantings. Each sapling in the test plot receives a dose of this amended soil to reestablish critical mycorrhizal networks.

Nearby, a second plot is being treated with biochar sourced from the logging industry. Its high porosityPorosity of biochar is a key factor in its effectiveness as a soil amendment and its ability to retain water and nutrients. Biochar’s porosity is influenced by feedstock type and pyrolysis temperature, and it plays a crucial role in microbial activity and overall soil health. Biochar More supports microbial colonization while enhancing moisture and nutrient retention in otherwise degraded substrates. The amendment also contributes to the project’s carbon strategy, forming part of Bosland’s carbon credit-based financing model.

With a targeted 70% survival rate, this reforestation effort integrates soil biology and carbon market mechanisms to drive landscape-scale ecological recovery. Results from these trials will inform future restoration strategies throughout the region’s post-industrial lands.

LEARN MORE: Reforesting a Gravel Mine