Landowners who order a minimum of 500 conifer seedlings in nine varieties from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for planting this spring, can receive an equal number of white pine seedlings at no additional charge.

ODNR's new Conifer Match Program represents significant savings for landowners who want a total of at least 1,000 seedlings for conservation and reforestation purposes.

"We are glad to offer quality seedlings to landowners under this program while supplies last," says John Dorka, chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry. "Our Ohio Conservation Seedlings are grown specifically for planting in natural resource protection and habitat improvement projects."

Conifer species available through the match program include arborvitae, eastern hemlock, red cedar, Austrian pine, loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, Norway spruce, Virginia pine and white pine. Under program guidelines, landowners are required to protect all plantings from grazing and fire.

Conifer orders will be priced at the "1,000 and over" discount rate. Buyers will be responsible only for shipping costs on the initial 500 conifer seedlings they purchase. Both the ordered conifers and the free white pine seedlings will be shipped together, with delivery in time for planting this spring. All seedlings are shipped via UPS and cannot be picked up at the nursery.

ODNR sells more than 2 million seedlings for reforestation each year from its Marietta State Tree Nursery. In the past 80 years, more than a half billion trees were sold to reforest Ohio. For availability of tree species and prices, contact the Division of Forestry toll free at 1-877-691-8733 or online at ohiodnr.com.