The Sourland Conservancy and dozens of community volunteers recently finished planting native trees and shrubs in Curlis Woods, part of an ongoing effort to restore the health of one of the Sourlands’ most threatened forests.
Participants of all ages worked alongside Conservancy staff to plant a wide mix of species — including silver maple, river birch, shagbark hickory, spicebush, sycamore, pin oak, black willow, and several varieties of dogwood and viburnum. Young black, white, and chestnut oak seedlings were also added to the understory. Each plant was protected with tree tubes or fencing to improve long-term survival.
The work is part of a broader strategy to diversify the forest as Beech Leaf Disease spreads through the region. Curlis Woods, a mature beech grove within Mercer County Parks, is showing signs of decline.
“We’re planting diverse native trees and shrubs,” said Robert Aluck, the Conservancy’s stewardship director. “The reason we are selecting these species is to combat future canopy loss due to Beech Leaf Disease, which will potentially kill 70 to 80% of Curlis Woods.”
For volunteers, the planting offered both hands-on work and a lesson in how a changing climate and invasive pests are reshaping local forests.
“Curlis Woods is a beautiful beech grove, and seeing the effects of Beech Leaf Disease made the time spent there feel incredibly necessary,” volunteer Sam Guman said. “Every tree we planted is a step toward giving this forest a new future.”
The Conservancy has planted more than 65,000 trees since 2020 through its partnerships with municipalities, landowners, and volunteers across the Sourland region. The organization says the large-scale restoration effort is critical to improving habitat, slowing erosion, and supporting healthier streams and air quality.
More information about the Conservancy’s reforestation work is available at sourland.org.
