Researchers plant ‘climate-smart’ trees from the south to save forests up north

Climate change is putting stress on the traditional spruce and pines in Minnesota’s northern forests — and there’s real concern about their future.

So, researchers are planting trees from the southern parts of our state in hopes of saving our northern forests.

It’s called assisted migration and University of Minnesota professor Julie Etterson is studying if it can be an effective strategy for reforesting and fighting climate change.