Lincoln National Forest completes reforestation projects

Daily News Report | Alamogordo Daily News

ALAMOGORDO - The Lincoln National Forest has completed two reforestation projects within the last few weeks.

On the Smokey Bear District, 100 acres near Loma Grande that were burned in the 2011 Little Bear Fire were planted with Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and Southwestern white pine.

On the Sacramento District, 100 acres near Harris Canyon that burned during the 2000 Scott Able Fire were planted with Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and white fir seedlings.

Approximately 41,000 seedlings were planted with shade shelters that will remain in place for two years. The shelters are designed to provide a better micro-climate and protection from browsers while the seedlings get established. The nursery stock was grown in a Forest Service nursery in Idaho from seed collected on the forest.

More: Lincoln National Forest accepting public comments on NM meadow jumping mouse habitat

The projects are part of the national Forest Management Reforestation Partnerships program. For decades, the financial support from external parties through this program has enhanced the agency’s ability to reforest and restore landscapes across the U.S.

The purpose of this program is to allow individuals or groups to contribute funds voluntarily directly to the Forest Service for tree planting on national forests to help improve the environment.

Currently the Forest Service has national agreements in place with American Forests, Arbor Day Foundation, National Garden Clubs, the National Forest Foundation, Plant-A-Tree Batesville, and the American Chestnut Foundation.

The Little Bear Project is a partnership with American Forests while the Scott Able Project is in partnership with the Plant-A-Tree Foundation.

More: Lincoln National Forest and county prepares for fire season

This is the second year of the reforestation program on the Lincoln. Last year trees were planted at South Fork Campground on the Rio Bonito and at Sleepy Grass Campground near Cloudcroft.

The Forestry Service anticipates continuing these partnership-based reforestation projects to plant many more trees on accessible, non-wilderness lands deforested by severe wildfires and insects.

For more information please contact Craig Wilcox, Forest Restoration Program Manager at 575-434-7241. For more information about the Lincoln National Forest visit our web site: fs.usda.gov/lincoln