In honor of Earth Day, Komatsu employees once again ventured deep into the forest to plant trees in support of the company's ongoing reforestation partnership with nonprofit organization Green Forests Work (GFW).
On April 29, 2026, the Komatsu team planted more than 1,200 seedlings at the Mower Tract in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, an area with unique challenges that has been undergoing reforestation since 2010.
The project, which Komatsu has supported since 2019, is a large-scale ecological restoration effort. With the support of Komatsu, nonprofit organizations and the U.S. Forest Service, approximately 1,500 acres have been restored on this site, including the creation of more than 1,000 wetlands and the planting of nearly a million trees.
This year's event focused on planting trees in an area where more than 100 artificial retention ponds and basins had been drained. These water features were originally created to capture sediment generated by the mining process. However, due to the lack of shade in this area, warm-water runoff from these ponds caused thermal pollution, harming a robust trout population in a nearby stream. Reforesting these areas will provide shade for any remaining downstream runoff and help ensure a balanced ecosystem for the trout population and other species that overheated waterways may harm.
"This year's event was special because it exemplified how much we've progressed at the Mower Tract because of the assistance that Komatsu provided," said Christopher Barton, founder of Green Forests Work. "With the funding and help from Komatsu, as well as the support from the Forest Service, we went from doing an expected 70 to 80 acres a year to almost 200 acres in several of these years."
Komatsu's partnership with GFW over the past seven years has resulted in the planting of more than 700,000 trees on formerly mined lands. The company's involvement aligns with its broader efforts to contribute to environmental stewardship and sustainable land use. These initiatives reflect a continued focus on applying technology and collaboration to address real-world challenges in construction, mining and land management.
Komatsu's reforestation efforts are designed to address long-term land recovery challenges following historical mining activity. Sites with compacted soils and limited vegetation can experience reduced water infiltration and diminished habitat value. Through coordinated planning, ground preparation and tree planting, these projects aim to restore ecological function and improve land use outcomes for surrounding communities.
Ground preparation remains a critical component of reforestation success. Techniques such as soil ripping help break up compacted layers, allowing water penetration and improving conditions for root growth. This groundwork has been done through the years using many Komatsu dozers, excavators and wheel loaders — either loaned to GFW or operated by contractors that own Komatsu equipment.
"Reforestation is meaningful to Komatsu, because it represents responsible stewardship of our natural resources," said Rod Bull, CEO of Komatsu North America. "Partnering with an organization like Green Forests Work to reforest lands that were once mined gives us the opportunity to be part of the circular economy in a way that reflects our long-term commitment to responsible land use and supporting a more sustainable future."
