Nearly 140,000 Trees to Be Planted in Iowa State Forests With Grant Provided by the Arbor Day Foundation

Nebraska City, Neb. (May 5, 2009) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will plant nearly 140,000 trees in four Iowa state forests this month with funds provided by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Planting projects will take place in Loess Hills, Stephens, Yellow River and Shimek state forests.

More than 10,000 trees will be planted at Loess Hills as part of a project that will plant native species of trees along streams and creeks throughout the forest.

At Stephens State Forest, 52,500 seedlings will be planted on a site that once was owned by the Iowa Coal Mining Company. The project will add many native hardwood trees to the area, including bur oak, black cherry, hickory, hazelnut, white oak and red oak.

A total of 46,464 will be planted at Yellow River State Forest to reforest an area for wildlife habitat that had become pasture land. Several species of native trees will be planted on this 320-acre tract of land.

A project to reforest degraded pasture land on a recently acquired tract of land at Shimek State Forest will add 30,485 trees to the forest's canopy. Mixed oak and walnut trees will be planted over 60 acres to greatly enhance neotropical migrant bird habitat.

"Thanks to the generosity of our members and great partners and friends, we are able to work with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on this extensive tree-planting project in four Iowa state forests," said Dan Lambe, vice president of programs for the Arbor Day Foundation. "These trees will provide many benefits for the forests, and will also enhance the beauty of these diverse areas."

"The Iowa DNR Forestry Bureau is honored and grateful to have the opportunity to partner with the Arbor Day Foundation on these projects," said Jeff Goerndt, state forests section chief with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "Their support will go a long way toward reforestation of critical natural areas in Iowa's state forests."

This year, the Arbor Day Foundation is working with partners to plant trees in more than 10 states and territories in the United States.

Since 1989, the Arbor Day Foundation has worked with the U.S. Forest Service to plant trees in America's national forests. Since then, the Foundation has helped to plant more than 12 million trees in national forests that have been devastated by wildfire, insects and disease.

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About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org.