Western Reserve Land Conservancy (WRLC) planted approximately 62 acres of upland trees and 26 acres of wetland trees and shrubs, totaling 88 acres, in Mifflin Township, Richland County, Ohio. The plantings are part of the restoration plan for a 480-acre protected property that had been a working farm since 1959 until 2020 when they acquired the property. The Black Fork Planting Project will reforest a portion of the former agricultural fields as part of restoration efforts to create forest, meadow, and wetland habitat. This project, as part of the larger restoration effort, will have significant benefits for the region’s water quality, improve biodiversity, and benefit wildlife.

The upland areas were planted in the spring of 2023 with approximately 4,340 trees. Upland species include Ohio buckeye, shellbark hickory, swamp white oak, burr oak, and pin oak. The wetland areas were planted in the fall of 2023 with approximately 1,848 trees. Wetland species include pin oak, swamp white oak, eastern cottonwood, sycamore, and black walnut. Oak and hickory trees play a critical nutritional role for wildlife, and also help achieve the Ohio Forest Action Plan to sustain oak-dominated forests. This is WRLC’s first planting project within their Carbon Program portfolio. Links to some of their preservation projects are provided below.

Total Credits Issued: 1,337

• 2024: 1,337 credits issued

Total Credits Sold: 0

Total Credits Retired: 0

Total Credits Cancelled: 0

Total Credits Available for Purchase: 1,337

Co-Benefits

Trees planted as part of this project will provide ecosystem services, also known as co-benefits, when they reach 25 years old. The co-benefits represent a savings (avoided costs) of $456,219 per year when the trees reach age 25, and $11,405,477 over the next 25 to 50 years.

• Rain interception (stormwater management) – 34,377.88 m3/year, $246,113.43 per year
• Air quality – 1.0013 tons/year, $4,636per year
• Energy use – cooling (electricity) – 944,323 kWh/year, $71,674 per year
• Energy use – heating (natural gas) – 13,744,090 kBtu/year, $133,795 per year

Social Impacts

The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an urgent call for action and global partnership among all countries, representing key benchmarks for creating a better world and environment for everyone. Well-designed and managed urban forests make significant contributions to the environmental sustainability, economic viability and livability of cities. The main SDGs for this project are described below, with more detailed information in the Project Design Document.

The project area is within a property located along a major interstate, and the trees planted as part of the Black Fork restoration project will screen pollutants from this highly-trafficked road.  The trees will benefit water quality and will help restore forest, meadow, and wetland through the transformation of agricultural fields.

The trees planted will help reduce stormwater runoff, prevent soil erosion, improve infiltration rates, and buffer existing and newly created wetlands. The project will improve water quality by slowing and capturing runoff and decreasing nutrients and sediment entering waterways.

The trees will have soil and water quality benefits and will create additional wildlife habitat. The site’s existing forest serves as habitat for state-listed bird and bat species that rely on forests for breeding, foraging, and nesting. Increasing forest habitat will greatly benefit these species.