MN Reforestation Project Will Battle Impacts Of Climate Change

MINNESOTA — A privately-funded reforestation aims to battle the impacts of climate change and invasive plants on Minnesota's forests. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Nature Conservancy will reforest hundreds of acres of land across four state parks.

Park workers will plant a mix of climate-adapted native species to diversify and improve the health and climate resiliency of these lands into the future in four sites; Gooseberry Falls, Temperance River, Cascade River, and the Split Rock Lighthouse State Park.

"These forests have changed from what was once here due to turn-of-the-century logging practices, deer browse and climate change," Liza McCarthy, DNR district resource specialist, said in a news release.

Minnesota's natural resources need protection and active management to remain healthy into the future, according to McCarthy.

More than 100,000 seedlings will be planted across the four state parks, according to the DNR.

Also read: Is Minnesota Getting Warmer?