In Appalachia, the total area of surface mined land is estimated to be around 1.5 million acres.   Much of this land is non-forested and unused.  But the American Chestnut Foundation and Green Forest Works are two organizations developing an innovative approach — planting hardwood trees including the threatened American Chestnut — for making these vast swaths of land ecologically and economically viable. Jonna Mckone has this report.