What are
Climate Smart Tree Seedlings?
The northern Minnesota climate is warming rapidly, leading to a host of new pressures placed upon our forests; disease, pests, droughts, floods and fires. In order to have healthy and resilient forests and woodlands for future generations, our forests need our assistance.
The approach to address these concerns through climate smart tree seedlings is two-fold:
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Broad Genetic Diversity: Seed is gathered from native trees across southern and central Minnesota, from multiple populations of each species, with a minimum of 10 mothers per population to maximize genetic diversity.
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Forest Assisted Migration: The seedlings are grown out by our network of growers and then planted out 200+ miles north of the mother populations. Research has suggested that southern genetics are performing better in northern Minnesota forests due to the significant changes in temperatures.
Farm & Forest Growers Cooperative
The cooperative is a group of small-scale farmers and growers working collectively to produce climate smart tree seedlings. The cooperative works closely with several partners to develop sales platforms, customer relationships and support existing and future climate smart tree seedling growers, and of course grow tree seedlings!
Its mission is to promote healthy forests in the face of a dramatically changing climate by supplying climate smart tree seedlings for Minnesotans engaged in tree planting and forest restoration efforts. The cooperative pursues this mission in a manner that builds up rural economies by supporting small- to mid-scale farmers & nursery people to develop tree seedling enterprises on their land.
Farm & Forest Growers Cooperatative acknowledges with deep gratitude the funding provided to this work by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
The Trust Fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by the citizens of Minnesota to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.
Currently 40% of net Minnesota State Lottery proceeds are dedicated to growing the Trust Fund and ensuring future benefits for Minnesota’s environment and natural resources.
Climate Smart Seedling Production Network
CSSPN
CSSPN is the broader project led by The Nature Conservancy who coordinates with several organizations incorporating seed collection trainings, general updates, recruiting seedling growers across the state, managing the Growers Incentive Payment Program, and developing a statewide climate smart seedling marketing and sales campaign.
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The Farm & Forest Growers Cooperative works in partnership with, and as a part of, the Climate Smart Seedling Production Network.
