ITASCA COUNTY Trees in fog above the UPM/Blandin forest land in Itasca County, Minnesota. © Richard Hamilton Smith
There is so much more to our forests than meets the eye. Root systems stabilize soil and filter water as it runs into nearby lakes and rivers. Bright green leaves absorb carbon dioxide, the climate-warming gas, into branches, trunks and roots. The canopy, the soil and everything in between provide habitat for wildlife.
Unfortunately, Minnesota lost about 44% of its original forest from land clearing and logging from the 1870s to the 1930s, and forest loss continues through development and conversion to agriculture.
But there is reason to be hopeful. We can rebuild our forests with an eye to their long-term survival, benefiting people and nature.
The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota and our partners have launched Minnesota Million, a movement to reforest 1 million acres of our state.
The opportunity is there. More than 2.6 million acres of deforested land can be restored to forest, capturing nearly 3 million tons of carbon each year. To reach this goal, it is going to take all of us.
How We’re Helping
More than 90% of Minnesota's reforestation opportunity is on privately owned land, and the majority of that is owned by individual families. The biggest way that The Nature Conservancy and our partners can help is by supporting private landowners to get trees planted on their land.
We’re reaching out to landowners and local agencies to connect state and local resources directly to the people who can use them—helping turn reforestation plans into planted acres.
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The Reforestation Pipeline
Seed
Although seeds may “grow on trees,” collecting enough of the right species from the right places is a real challenge.
Wildfires, pests and other threats can quickly wipe out local tree populations and their seeds. Some seed orchards are producing seed for reforestation, but many have been neglected. Only a limited number of seed collectors are working to gather seed, and many more are needed. Plus, seed collection is a labor-intensive task, requiring year-round planning and a short window of time when seeds can be gathered.
We’re addressing these challenges by collecting healthy seeds from diverse parent trees and tracking them throughout the entire supply chain. We’re also supporting partners in training the next generation of seed collectors.
Seedlings
The next step: grow seeds into seedlings.
We work at the Minnesota legislature to educate lawmakers and advance policies that support reforestation. This work depends on many key investments. In recent years, we have helped successfully advocate for state investments to improve and expand the capacity of the Minnesota State Forest Nursery, which has produced more than 1 billion seedlings in the last century.
Private nurseries across Minnesota are also working hard to meet the increased demand for tree seedlings to fuel reforestation efforts.
Planting
More than 2 million acres of land in Minnesota could be reforested, according to Nature Conservancy research. The opportunity is mostly on privately owned pastures and open urban space, with the largest opportunity in central Minnesota.
We’re working with partners to help private landowners plant trees where it makes the most sense. While storing carbon benefits the entire state and beyond, trees also provide local benefits like shade, ambient cooling, reduced erosion, firewood and wildlife habitat.
For many landowners, forests offer something even more important: a place to build deep connections with nature as they play in, care for and take inspiration from the forest. Landowners, large and small, can become part of this effort to fight climate change and protect biodiversity.
Tending
From seed scouting to collection, storage and nursery growth, a lot of work goes into getting a seedling ready to plant. To make sure that work doesn’t go to waste, it’s critical that a seedling receives proper tending and care in its first few years. That means making sure young trees get enough water and are protected from herbivores like deer. A single bite off the top of a tree seedling can mean certain death, so maintaining fencing around seedlings can help them grow out of reach of browsers.
Why reforestation?
Bringing more trees to the land is a win for property owners, who can enjoy the beauty, serenity and wildlife that healthy forests support for generations. It’s also a win for all of Minnesota by helping restore balance to nature, improve water quality, store carbon and create resilient lands for the future.
Landowners have a unique opportunity to turn their land into lasting impact. Every acre planted helps people and nature thrive together.
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