November/December 2023 Insights

Meet Our Team

Restoring Our Forests Thank you for supporting critical reforestation efforts

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

Magnificent Bird, Monumental Concerns

I

n this year’s Emergency Forest Replanting Appeal, we shared the need for reforestation on a large scale. Too many trees are being lost every day to fire, storms, and deforestation — trees that are essential for the future of our world. We also asked some of you to help us meet this need.

The northern spotted owl is in a fight for survival, but trees can help

Because together, we can make a difference.

Jena Wanek,

Program Coordinator – Reforestation What do you love about your work at the Arbor Day Foundation?

I love making an impact, not only locally but also around the world. Through the stories and photos sent in by our members and partners, you learn just how much these trees mean to them and their communities.

It’s wonderful to see people from all walks of life come together to create pockets of flourishing green space. To be even a small part of that alongside a brilliant and compassionate team is what drives me forward every day.

How did you develop a connection with trees?

When our forests are healthy, everyone benefits. Thank you for supporting a future abundant with trees.

More than 1 million trees in forests

No matter why barred owls came to the region, the changing landscape is making it easy for them to stick around. While spotted owls need old-growth forests to survive, barred owls can thrive in both young and old forests. That means the current landscape now favors the barred owl. This bird also competes aggressively with the northern spotted owl, driving them out of their natural habitat. Sometimes, the barred owl even preys on the spotted owl.

THOSE TREES WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT* More than 76,000 metric tons of carbon sequestered

More than 6,000 tons of air pollution removed

Nearly 19.8 billion gallons of water runoff absorbed

N

orthern spotted owls are a beloved sight in the Pacific Northwest. They’re found primarily in old-growth forests on the coastal side of the Cascade Mountain Range in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern California. But in recent decades, they have become rather hard to find.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed these birds as federally threatened, and the news just keeps getting worse. “[The northern spotted owl] is on a trajectory to be functionally extinct, probably within this century,” said Dan Donato, a scientist with the Washington Department of Natural Resources.

What is your favorite tree?

50137501

But shrinking habitat is not the sole issue confronting the northern spotted owl. There’s another factor at play: the barred owl. The barred owl is native to eastern North America but has now moved into the spotted owl’s West Coast territory. And scientists aren’t sure why. “It wasn’t brought here as far as anyone can tell. It just immigrated across the continent,” Dan noted.

More than 25,000 members and supporters

I have fond memories growing up around many street trees in my neighborhood.

(Granted, most of them were Bradford pear trees, so maybe not-so-fond memories when they bloomed in the spring.) Still, time spent with my friends and family at a local park or enjoying the beautiful autumn foliage were my favorite. From escaping the heat under a shady tree, to my professors in college who taught me about people, wildlife, and the environment we all depend on, these moments — big and small — catalyzed my respect and awe for trees.

Probably the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), or the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida).

this specific type of forest is becoming increasingly rare.

Decades of harvesting, disease, and insect infestation have led to land conversion and habitat fragmentation. This loss of connected habitat is one of the most critical threats to the owl’s survival.

And thanks to your generosity, we ARE making a difference. More than 25,000 dedicated members and supporters just like you have stepped up to ensure our forests can once again be green and lush.

* Estimate based on U.S. Forest Service analysis of native-species trees planted in Pennsylvania with a 97% annual survival rate, 3% mortality every year, for 100 years.

Arbor Day Foundation • 211 N. 12th St. • Lincoln, NE 68508

Supporting a struggling species With the northern spotted owl population now in a downward spiral, scientists are stepping in. “The Fish and Wildlife Service is running experiments to remove barred owls from landscapes,” Dan explained. “If you create a vacuum with no barred owls in it, the spotted owls, if they are still out there somewhere, will they come back and use the habitat?”

Facing major challenges

The Arbor Day Foundation is also working with the Washington Department of Natural Resources to bolster much-needed forest habitat for these owls. Dense tree canopy is being planted over thousands of acres to help them survive. The plantings of Douglasfir, western hemlock, and western redcedar mimic a similar structure of old-growth forests.

Northern spotted owls are dependent on old-growth forests for survival. The mature trees with large trunk diameters and dense canopy layers provide ideal conditions for the owl’s nesting, roosting, and foraging. Unfortunately,

This work is critical in order to ensure a future for the northern spotted owl. Each step toward reestablishing their habitat is a step toward a healthier ecosystem and a more resilient forest for years to come.

Fahrenheit. “Each species has a specific time frame for refrigeration,” Sara noted. This will mirror the process the seeds go through in the winter season. After refrigeration, it’s time for the seeds to be sown.

Customizing climate zones The centerpiece of this operation is an expansive greenhouse capable of holding 1 million seedlings at any given time. While the size alone is impressive, what’s more remarkable is its versatility. This area can actually be separated into four different climate-controlled spaces.

The Future of Forests Lucky Peak Nursery is leading the way in high-tech seedling production

T

ucked in the high desert near Boise, Idaho, Lucky Peak Nursery is one of six nurseries run by the USDA Forest Service. And while you may not immediately think of science and technology when you think of a tree nursery, these things are top of mind around here.

Sorting out the best seed Once harvested, seeds come to Lucky Peak Nursery to be cleaned and sorted. The outer coating and other litter are removed, and then the seeds are sent through a custom-built sorter attached to a shop vacuum. The forced air separates the seeds by weight. The lighter seeds are discarded. They are empty, most likely due to insects, meaning nothing will sprout from those seeds.

2

Seed isn’t always collected as it’s needed — it’s often collected as it’s readily available. In fact, seed collection can happen for as much as a full decade before reforestation will be necessary. That’s why the nursery has a walk-in freezer large enough to hold 20,000 pounds of seed.

If you’re going to leave seeds in freezing conditions for multiple years, you first need to know they can handle the cold. So, the staff conducts moisture testing.

They measure the moisture levels in the air immediately around the seeds. Seeds with high moisture content, such as acorns, can’t be frozen. The water will expand too much as it freezes, and the seed will explode. If the seed doesn’t have enough moisture, it won’t stay viable in the freezer for as long. The nursery will use it as soon as possible. Lucky Peak is looking for seeds to last in the freezer for at least a decade.

This nursery is responsible for helping National Forests in Southern Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Western Wyoming, Arizona, and New Mexico recover more quickly after natural disasters. They need to have seedlings ready when tree planting is underway, and that means implementing tools and strategies to provide the maximum number of seedlings as fast as possible. That’s how they currently produce 3 million (or more) seedlings per year.

It’s a careful balance of letting nature take the lead and supporting it with a scientific approach and detailed data management. Here are some examples of that technical support.

Cataloging for long-term cold storage

The heavier seed is kept for planting. A small selection of this seed is then sent through a digital X-ray machine to ensure the seeds were sorted well. “We sample 100 seeds. There we will evaluate each seed and determine if it is fully developed. This will give us an estimate of how well the seed will germinate,” said Sara Wilson, Nursery & Reforestation Specialist with the USDA Forest Service.

For one final quality check, the seed is taken to a certified seed lab for germination testing. Luckily, one of these labs is just up the road in Boise. “I’ll just buzz down into town and drop off a sample, and they are able to do germination testing for us,” Sara said. Knowing that the seeds are going to grow well is incredibly valuable in a nursery asked to supply millions of trees per year.

A r b o r D ay F o u n d at i o n O a k S o c i e t y I n s i g h t s • N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 3

By dropping the dividers and adjusting temperature and humidity, they can simulate four different climates.

Seedlings can grow in Arizona’s warmer spring conditions even in Idaho’s cold winters. This means year-round growing, and that’s how the nursery can produce millions of seedlings annually.

Ensuring a healthy future for forests In this day and age, it’s not enough to plant a seedling and hope for the best. This technical approach leads to more seeds growing into healthy seedlings — each ready to take root in a forest in need. It’s a level of dedication that helps forests recover more quickly in the wake of natural disasters, insect damage, and diseases.

The Arbor Day Foundation is proud to partner with Lucky Peak Nursery, ensuring our National Forests can thrive for generations to come.

Inside the freezer, seeds are organized by “collection zone.” Each National Forest the nursery supports is broken into multiple zones, based on climate data. When a forest needs seedlings, Lucky Peak pulls seeds from the matching zone — from trees that thrived in that area.

Waking up the seeds for planting Seeds that come from the freezer go through a “wake-up” process called stratification.

Essentially, this mimics the forest’s fall and winter seasons. First, the seeds are soaked in an aerated bath. This replicates the fall rains. Then the seeds are dried and refrigerated at 35 degrees

The walk-in freezer, which looks a bit like file storage, is kept at zero degrees Fahrenheit to preserve the seeds until they are needed.

A r b o r D ay F o u n d at i o n O a k S o c i e t y I n s i g h t s • N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 3

3

Fahrenheit. “Each species has a specific time frame for refrigeration,” Sara noted. This will mirror the process the seeds go through in the winter season. After refrigeration, it’s time for the seeds to be sown.

Customizing climate zones The centerpiece of this operation is an expansive greenhouse capable of holding 1 million seedlings at any given time. While the size alone is impressive, what’s more remarkable is its versatility. This area can actually be separated into four different climate-controlled spaces.

The Future of Forests Lucky Peak Nursery is leading the way in high-tech seedling production

T

ucked in the high desert near Boise, Idaho, Lucky Peak Nursery is one of six nurseries run by the USDA Forest Service. And while you may not immediately think of science and technology when you think of a tree nursery, these things are top of mind around here.

Sorting out the best seed Once harvested, seeds come to Lucky Peak Nursery to be cleaned and sorted. The outer coating and other litter are removed, and then the seeds are sent through a custom-built sorter attached to a shop vacuum. The forced air separates the seeds by weight. The lighter seeds are discarded. They are empty, most likely due to insects, meaning nothing will sprout from those seeds.

2

Seed isn’t always collected as it’s needed — it’s often collected as it’s readily available. In fact, seed collection can happen for as much as a full decade before reforestation will be necessary. That’s why the nursery has a walk-in freezer large enough to hold 20,000 pounds of seed.

If you’re going to leave seeds in freezing conditions for multiple years, you first need to know they can handle the cold. So, the staff conducts moisture testing.

They measure the moisture levels in the air immediately around the seeds. Seeds with high moisture content, such as acorns, can’t be frozen. The water will expand too much as it freezes, and the seed will explode. If the seed doesn’t have enough moisture, it won’t stay viable in the freezer for as long. The nursery will use it as soon as possible. Lucky Peak is looking for seeds to last in the freezer for at least a decade.

This nursery is responsible for helping National Forests in Southern Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Western Wyoming, Arizona, and New Mexico recover more quickly after natural disasters. They need to have seedlings ready when tree planting is underway, and that means implementing tools and strategies to provide the maximum number of seedlings as fast as possible. That’s how they currently produce 3 million (or more) seedlings per year.

It’s a careful balance of letting nature take the lead and supporting it with a scientific approach and detailed data management. Here are some examples of that technical support.

Cataloging for long-term cold storage

The heavier seed is kept for planting. A small selection of this seed is then sent through a digital X-ray machine to ensure the seeds were sorted well. “We sample 100 seeds. There we will evaluate each seed and determine if it is fully developed. This will give us an estimate of how well the seed will germinate,” said Sara Wilson, Nursery & Reforestation Specialist with the USDA Forest Service.

For one final quality check, the seed is taken to a certified seed lab for germination testing. Luckily, one of these labs is just up the road in Boise. “I’ll just buzz down into town and drop off a sample, and they are able to do germination testing for us,” Sara said. Knowing that the seeds are going to grow well is incredibly valuable in a nursery asked to supply millions of trees per year.

A r b o r D ay F o u n d at i o n O a k S o c i e t y I n s i g h t s • N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 3

By dropping the dividers and adjusting temperature and humidity, they can simulate four different climates.

Seedlings can grow in Arizona’s warmer spring conditions even in Idaho’s cold winters. This means year-round growing, and that’s how the nursery can produce millions of seedlings annually.

Ensuring a healthy future for forests In this day and age, it’s not enough to plant a seedling and hope for the best. This technical approach leads to more seeds growing into healthy seedlings — each ready to take root in a forest in need. It’s a level of dedication that helps forests recover more quickly in the wake of natural disasters, insect damage, and diseases.

The Arbor Day Foundation is proud to partner with Lucky Peak Nursery, ensuring our National Forests can thrive for generations to come.

Inside the freezer, seeds are organized by “collection zone.” Each National Forest the nursery supports is broken into multiple zones, based on climate data. When a forest needs seedlings, Lucky Peak pulls seeds from the matching zone — from trees that thrived in that area.

Waking up the seeds for planting Seeds that come from the freezer go through a “wake-up” process called stratification.

Essentially, this mimics the forest’s fall and winter seasons. First, the seeds are soaked in an aerated bath. This replicates the fall rains. Then the seeds are dried and refrigerated at 35 degrees

The walk-in freezer, which looks a bit like file storage, is kept at zero degrees Fahrenheit to preserve the seeds until they are needed.

A r b o r D ay F o u n d at i o n O a k S o c i e t y I n s i g h t s • N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 3

3

Meet Our Team

Restoring Our Forests Thank you for supporting critical reforestation efforts

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

Magnificent Bird, Monumental Concerns

I

n this year’s Emergency Forest Replanting Appeal, we shared the need for reforestation on a large scale. Too many trees are being lost every day to fire, storms, and deforestation — trees that are essential for the future of our world. We also asked some of you to help us meet this need.

The northern spotted owl is in a fight for survival, but trees can help

Because together, we can make a difference.

Jena Wanek,

Program Coordinator – Reforestation What do you love about your work at the Arbor Day Foundation?

I love making an impact, not only locally but also around the world. Through the stories and photos sent in by our members and partners, you learn just how much these trees mean to them and their communities.

It’s wonderful to see people from all walks of life come together to create pockets of flourishing green space. To be even a small part of that alongside a brilliant and compassionate team is what drives me forward every day.

How did you develop a connection with trees?

When our forests are healthy, everyone benefits. Thank you for supporting a future abundant with trees.

More than 1 million trees in forests

No matter why barred owls came to the region, the changing landscape is making it easy for them to stick around. While spotted owls need old-growth forests to survive, barred owls can thrive in both young and old forests. That means the current landscape now favors the barred owl. This bird also competes aggressively with the northern spotted owl, driving them out of their natural habitat. Sometimes, the barred owl even preys on the spotted owl.

THOSE TREES WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT* More than 76,000 metric tons of carbon sequestered

More than 6,000 tons of air pollution removed

Nearly 19.8 billion gallons of water runoff absorbed

N

orthern spotted owls are a beloved sight in the Pacific Northwest. They’re found primarily in old-growth forests on the coastal side of the Cascade Mountain Range in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern California. But in recent decades, they have become rather hard to find.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed these birds as federally threatened, and the news just keeps getting worse. “[The northern spotted owl] is on a trajectory to be functionally extinct, probably within this century,” said Dan Donato, a scientist with the Washington Department of Natural Resources.

What is your favorite tree?

50137501

But shrinking habitat is not the sole issue confronting the northern spotted owl. There’s another factor at play: the barred owl. The barred owl is native to eastern North America but has now moved into the spotted owl’s West Coast territory. And scientists aren’t sure why. “It wasn’t brought here as far as anyone can tell. It just immigrated across the continent,” Dan noted.

More than 25,000 members and supporters

I have fond memories growing up around many street trees in my neighborhood.

(Granted, most of them were Bradford pear trees, so maybe not-so-fond memories when they bloomed in the spring.) Still, time spent with my friends and family at a local park or enjoying the beautiful autumn foliage were my favorite. From escaping the heat under a shady tree, to my professors in college who taught me about people, wildlife, and the environment we all depend on, these moments — big and small — catalyzed my respect and awe for trees.

Probably the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), or the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida).

this specific type of forest is becoming increasingly rare.

Decades of harvesting, disease, and insect infestation have led to land conversion and habitat fragmentation. This loss of connected habitat is one of the most critical threats to the owl’s survival.

And thanks to your generosity, we ARE making a difference. More than 25,000 dedicated members and supporters just like you have stepped up to ensure our forests can once again be green and lush.

* Estimate based on U.S. Forest Service analysis of native-species trees planted in Pennsylvania with a 97% annual survival rate, 3% mortality every year, for 100 years.

Arbor Day Foundation • 211 N. 12th St. • Lincoln, NE 68508

Supporting a struggling species With the northern spotted owl population now in a downward spiral, scientists are stepping in. “The Fish and Wildlife Service is running experiments to remove barred owls from landscapes,” Dan explained. “If you create a vacuum with no barred owls in it, the spotted owls, if they are still out there somewhere, will they come back and use the habitat?”

Facing major challenges

The Arbor Day Foundation is also working with the Washington Department of Natural Resources to bolster much-needed forest habitat for these owls. Dense tree canopy is being planted over thousands of acres to help them survive. The plantings of Douglasfir, western hemlock, and western redcedar mimic a similar structure of old-growth forests.

Northern spotted owls are dependent on old-growth forests for survival. The mature trees with large trunk diameters and dense canopy layers provide ideal conditions for the owl’s nesting, roosting, and foraging. Unfortunately,

This work is critical in order to ensure a future for the northern spotted owl. Each step toward reestablishing their habitat is a step toward a healthier ecosystem and a more resilient forest for years to come.