Sometimes seemingly small efforts can have a big impact.

That’s what Autumn Sabo is hoping will happen with The Patch Project, an initiative with local nonprofit Reforest Our Future that aims to restore natural elements to the local landscape.

Sabo, assistant professor of biology at Penn State Beaver, and Jeff Karwoski, founder and executive director of Reforest Our Future, are planting 10 small patches of forest around Beaver County. The project is being completed with funds from the inaugural Commonwealth Campus Undergraduate Community-Engaged Research Award. The award is a new program designed for faculty who specifically support undergraduate student participation in research that aims to improve community well-being.

Penn State Beaver students visited the patch sites to collect initial landscape position, vegetation and soil data and are taking part in the patch preparations and planting. Students will also monitor patch growth and do sampling once the patches are complete.

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