Indiana Tree Project: 3,000 More Trees Planted at Greene-Sullivan State Forest

On a picturesque November morning, volunteers from Clif Bar and staff from the Division of Forestry gathered once again at Greene-Sullivan State Forest. There to plant 3,000 trees as part of the Indiana Tree Project, the group from Indianapolis was greeted by rolling fog and various waterfowl on the banks of Black Cat Lake.

Clif Bar’s dedication to the Indiana Tree Project has made a tremendous impact on Indiana’s public lands. During the last six years, more than 23,000 trees have been planted in three different state forests thanks to the group. With Forestry staff’s prep work and guidance, the group easily stepped off the bus and began their sixth planting along the flag-marked site.

Volunteers planting oak saplings along the rows prepared by Forestry staff.

The opportunity for its employees to get out of their regular work environment and experience time outdoors is one reason Clif Bar continues to support the Indiana Tree Project. Each planting brings both familiar and new faces onto Indiana’s public lands.

“This is awesome that Indiana has places like this; I didn’t even know about this region of the state,” one Clif Bar employee said to Steve Siscoe, property manager at Greene-Sullivan.

Siscoe planting oak trees with a Clif Bar volunteer.

Siscoe and other property staff explained the history and ecology of the property throughout the day, highlighting the impact Clif Bar has made. This planting and the group’s other two trips to Greene-Sullivan have contributed to its growth. During the last three years, more than 100,000 trees have been planted on the former strip-mining land.

In addition to planting trees, the Indiana Tree Project supports long-term forest management, something Siscoe noted on the group’s guided hike.

“It takes many years before crown closure of these trees,” Siscoe said. “Maintenance during that period is very important to ensure the health of the forest.”

Along the wide horse trails, property staff pointed out various tree species and fielded dozens of questions about the property. With a unique landscape of forest dotted with hundreds of bodies of water, Greene-Sullivan provides habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. As Siscoe listed a dozen or so species he’s spotted over the years, the group was able to relate the work they have done to the long-term benefits it provides.

Volunteers hike along Greene-Sullivan trails.

Partner plantings are just one portion of the Indiana Tree Project. Your support of the program goes a long way in creating and sustaining forests across the state. With each donation to the Indiana Tree Project, you’ll receive an official tree certificate that showcases your support for Indiana’s forests and provides details on which state forest your trees will be planted in.

Join us in celebrating and preserving Indiana’s natural legacy by donating today.