GREENSBURG, Pa. – The PA Veteran Farming Project is joining an ambitious statewide effort to plant 10 million trees throughout Pennsylvania by the end of 2025.
The Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, coordinated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), brings together a broad array of agencies, conservation groups, outdoors enthusiasts, businesses, and individuals to address a critical threat to Pennsylvania communities: polluted water.
Roughly 25,000 miles of Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams are impaired by polluted runoff and the legacy of coal mining. Trees are a key part of the solution. They filter and absorb polluted runoff from the land, stabilize streambanks, improve soil quality, reduce flooding, and provide habitat for wildlife.
“Veterans and military members who farm in Pennsylvania strive to be good stewards of their land. They respect soil health, clean air, and clean water—this effort will provide a resource to them to conserve the natural resources on their farms through tree plantings and riparian buffers,” said PA Veteran Farming Project Director Mimi Thomas-Brooker.
Shannon Gority, CBF Executive Director in Pennsylvania: “More trees benefit our farmers, our communities, and our health and welfare.”
With the help of PA Veteran Farming Project network members, the partnership will help achieve Pennsylvania’s commitment to reduce pollution in local streams and rivers. The Commonwealth’s Clean Water Blueprint calls for planting 95,000 acres of forest in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Bay watershed by the end of 2025.
“Clean rivers and streams are essential to our wellbeing,” said Brenda Sieglitz, CBF Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership Manager. “By working together to plant 10 million trees, we can ensure our waterways are a vibrant part of our communities for years to come.”
Veterans or members of the military who are landowners and are interested in learning more may contact PA Veteran Farming Project staff atpavetsfarm@gmail.com or 724-691.1987. Find out more about the PA Veteran Farming Project at www.troopstotractors.org
To learn more about the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership visit www.TenMillionTrees.org.
–PA Veteran Farming Project