Young Forest for Minnesota Wildlife

Across the Great Lakes region, the acres of young or early successional forest, primarily stands of aspen and birch, are declining. Historically, landscape level disturbance, especially fire, would have maintained this ecosystem as a component of the regional landscape. However, with fire protection as well as a declining forest products industry across Minnesota, this land cover type has declined in the state and across the Great Lakes region. Along with this decline in habitat are declines in species dependent on these ecosystems. Two species currently getting a lot of attention are golden-winged warblers which are declining two percent every year, and American woodcock which have declined approximately two to four percent per year. Other species dependent on this habitat include deer, moose, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, and a host of songbirds. This grant will restore young forests on public hunting areas from NW Minnesota to just above the Metro.