An additional 10 million trees could soon adorn Pennsylvania’s landscape, thanks to an effort led by several organizations across the state.

The goal, officials said, is to plant trees that will help filter and absorb polluted runoff that impairs rivers and streams. The trees will also help stabilize stream banks, improve soil quality, reduce flooding and provide habitat for wildlife.

The Pennsylvania Veteran Farming Project most recently joined the initiative, which is being headed by the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

“Clean rivers and streams are essential to our well-being,” Brenda Sieglitz, CBF Keystone 10 Million Trees partnership manager, said in a news release. “By working together to plant 10 million trees, we can ensure our waterways are a vibrant part of our communities for years to come.”

The goal of 10 million trees was landed on after a 2016 state Clean Water Blueprint called for an additional 96,000 acres of new stream side forests to be planted, according to officials with the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership. That equates to about 8.5 million new trees.

Adding trees to line streets and be planted on abandoned mine land and other landscapes raised the target to 10 million.That number, officials said, will cause reductions of 4.6 million pounds of nitrogen, 22.2 million pounds of sediment and 43,000 pounds of phosphorus.

Those changes will help with health, farms and the economy by boosting recreational activities and increasing farm activity.

For officials with the state’s Veteran Farming Project, the initiative will help several of the organization’s members, said Director Mimi Thomas-Brooker. The organization is a grassroots network made up of veterans, military members and spouses who farm and operate agribusinesses.

“Veterans and military members who farm in Pennsylvania strive to be good stewards of their land,” said Thomas-Brooker. “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.”

Veterans or military members interested in the project can contact the Pennsylvania Veteran Farming Project at pavetsfarm@gmail.com or 724-691-1987.

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