Forests | Great Lakes Echo

Land

Wisconsin officials cut diseased trees at state park

By | May 14, 2014

Wisconsin State officials are cutting down trees in Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door County that are infected with beech bark disease. The park has lots of beech trees and those that are infected pose a safety hazard, said Linda Williams, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources forest health specialist. Weakened limbs and trunks can snap off or fall over during strong winds. The idea is to remove dead trees before they harm visitors or staff. Infected trees that are within 75 feet of park trails are targeted, said Arnie Lindauer, a program analyst for the park.

Land

Photo Friday: Michigan ice skirts

By Greg Monahan | April 25, 2014

These photos taken by Ken Scott on April 14 show ice skirts formed near the bottom of trees and shrubs in northern Michigan. The images are posted on the Earth Science Picture of the Day feature produced by NASA’s Earth Sciences Division. This phenomenon was caused by heavy springtime rain falling on top of several inches of snow. As the water receded, temperatures in the area plunged — causing top layer of water (also the coldest layer) to freeze while the layers below the surface were more insulated and melted away. Have you ever seen an ice skirt before?

Land

Controversial Michigan bill would remove ban on state-owned land

By Capital News Service | February 6, 2014

Sponsored by Rep. Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City, the bill would raise the 4.626 million acre cap on land and allow the Department of Natural Resources to acquire more.

Echo

Climate change opens door to forest pests new to Great Lakes

By admin | November 11, 2013

As climate changes and growing seasons are interrupted by drought and frost, trees become more vulnerable to insects and disease.

Energy

Poplars modified for ethanol production still fight bugs

By | November 7, 2013

A recent University of Wisconsin study looked at whether genetically modifying poplar trees to more easily produce ethanol could also make them vulnerable to insect pests.

Land

Re-leaf Duluth seeks to restore the environment

By | May 15, 2013

By Daniel Badhwa

The city of Duluth, Minn. has launched a new program to restore and plant more trees in urban neighborhoods. Trees have disappeared from Duluth due to higher energy costs, pollution and unhealthy growing environments. The city of Duluth established the Re-Leaf program three years ago after setting aside a $5,000 annual budget to re-leaf the city. Urban trees provide shade for houses and businesses and soak up rainwater to lessen polluted runoff into lakes and streams. To many people though, urban trees simply provide a more pleasant living environment.

Land

Preserving history, mitigating climate change, saving forests

By | February 22, 2013

The Globe Elevator is a piece of Great Lakes history and a source of old growth Eastern white pine. Wisconsin Woodchuck hopes to preserve both, claiming that destroying the elevator would have environmental consequences.

Land

Pot woes well hidden in Michigan forests

By Capital News Service | February 6, 2013

Drug traffickers have been conducting business deep within the lush canopy of Michigan’s forests since at least 2008. After five years of eradication efforts, police say the problem shows no signs of going away.

Climate

Climate change: Forest warming forces warming

By Saodat Asanova-Taylor | July 5, 2012

A Wisconsin forest was among the test sites where scientists found that warming temperatures will more rapidly release carbon dioxide stored in soils.

Such an increase of the greenhouse gas could make the climate heat even faster.

Air

Nitrogen air pollution affects atmosphere, forests, water

By | June 12, 2012

With every gas-powered car and every traditional wastewater treatment plant, a little nitrogen pollution gets released into the atmosphere. Scientists say it settles into the soil and may even lead to toxic algae blooms that kill fish.