The eastern hemlock is Minnesota’s rarest tree species. The slow-growing, long-lived conifer used to be common across the state’s landscape, but overharvesting, wildfires and severe weather events have contributed to the species decline across the state. With a mere 50 wild trees remaining across the state, eastern hemlock is classified as endangered in Minnesota.
Kira Pollack, a graduate student pursuing a Master’s of Science in Natural Resource Science and Management, is working with Andy David and Marcella Windmuller-Campione, both Associate Professors in the Department of Forest Resources, to give these trees a much-needed boost.
Eastern hemlock provides numerous ecosystem benefits - it regulates nearby soil and water temperatures, and its dense canopy provides thermal cover for deer and other wildlife. Landowners and forest managers are interested in restoring eastern hemlock in Minnesota for these ecosystem benefits as well as for aesthetic purposes, but there is little existing information on how to best go about reestablishing the trees.
Source: umn.edu
Photo Credit: gettyimages-eugenesergeev
Categories: Minnesota, General