Volunteers are set to begin planting 10,000 trees Thursday to help complete a massive reforestation project on a former surface mine in Knott County.

According to a December 2023 report from McKinsey Sustainability, reforestation and afforestation ... trees help enhance the infiltration of rainwater in soil and restore groundwater reserves.

Despite the financial challenges, Relph said the nonprofit remains committed to its mission and will seek alternative funding sources to keep its reforestation efforts moving forward.