Forest Service Developing Tools for Assisted Tree Migration

Carrie Pike and Nick LaBonte with the U.S. Forest Service, and also HTIRC colleagues, are working with a diverse group of researchers to develop guidelines for future tree planting efforts. Projections indicate changes in climate may outpace the rate of natural plant adaptation and migration. This mismatch presents a significant challenge for resource managers as they make decisions on what tree species to select, grow and plant during reforestation and restoration projects. The Desired Regeneration through Assisted Migration (DREAM) project is an international collaboration that seeks to diminish these uncertainties through a structured process that uses basic and applied forest research to derive climate-informed planting approaches. To see the research and tools being developed visit the DREAM project website.