Forest ecosystems include trees, plants, and wildlife, and the diverse belowground world of soil. Being a forest caretaker also means being a caretaker of the soil.
My Minnesota Woods
Diverse woodlands provide wonderful habitats for native pollinators. We’re shedding some light on how woodlands can be managed with pollinators in mind.
Tree species at the southern edge of their current range will face increasing climate stress, and hardwoods not currently seen in Minnesota may slowly take their place.
When spruce budworm eats the buds of a tree, the tree becomes stressed. While trees often can withstand this stress, the risk of tree death increases when a drought occurs in addition to spruce budworm feeding.
Imagine a future in which introducing fungi to a site helps control buckthorn and keeps these aggressive and ecosystem-altering plants in check. Researchers and funders are hoping to make this dream a reality.
A resistance-focused climate adaptation approach to retain the current state of woodlands involves creating areas called refugia to protect species that may not perform well with climate change.
Extension's tree selection lists include new-to-region species as options for adding diversity to existing forests to help achieve climate adaptation goals.
Are trees moved through assisted migration considered invasive species? Climate change has experts rethinking boundaries and definitions.
Emerald ash borer (EAB) continues to cause problems for ash trees. As of this past year, it has been found in 48 Minnesota counties.
Yellow floating heart is an aquatic plant popular in water gardens. But this lovely plant is invasive and harms wild landscapes and bodies of water.