US Forest Service works with The Nature Conservancy on reforestation

When The Nature Conservancy is part of a reforestation project, each member of their crew can plant 2000 to 3000 seedlings in a single day, according to Resilience Forester Laura Slavsky. Slavsky is based in Duluth and part of the team organizing reforestation projects following timber cutting in Superior National Forest.

The reforestation projects are joint efforts that include TNC and the National Forest Service, along with input from other public entities like the bands of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and city and county governments, and from other environmental groups. One such project is located just off the Sawbill Trail, North of Tofte.

In October TNC has had crews working in the area to prepare the site for planting in the Spring. US Forest Service employees Forestry technician Isaac Heruth, who focuses on Timber Stand Improvement, Dave Grosshuesch, a district biologist out of the Tofte district office, and Gunflint District Ranger Kyle Stover joined Slavsky to show WTIP the site and talk through the efforts. 

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with Slavsky, Heruth, Grosshuesch, and Stover in the field. Audio of that conversation is below.

Kirsten Wisniewski November 5, 2024