Sourcing seeds to bolster Pennsylvania forest resiliency - Land-Grant Impacts

a row of potted sprouts in an experimental plot

Sourcing seeds to bolster Pennsylvania forest resiliency

Environmental Stewardship, Story 2025, Biofuels/Bioproducts, Ecosystem Services, Forest Protection and Management, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Research, The Pennsylvania State University

Humans depend on forests for wood and other ecosystem services. In Pennsylvania, many forests suffer from insect infestations, diseases, invasive plants and climate impacts that have degraded their quality over time.

Many trees regenerate naturally, but planting trees will help to restore our forests. It’s seen as a valuable management strategy to bring the kind of species we want into our future forests.

Researchers at the Pennsylvania State University worked with partners to develop Climate-smart Seed Sourcing for Resilient Pennsylvania Forests guidelines to help people select seed sources for restoration and reforestation. The publication aims to educate nursery professionals and landowners about climate-tolerant seed sources so they can sustain resilient forests by choosing trees that are likely more climate tolerant.

The researchers found similarities between seed transfer zones in Pennsylvania and other neighboring states, that show information on matching seed sources to planting sites. They used the mean temperature of the coldest month to determine these transfer zones.

View the full statement on the NIDB.

Project supported by Hatch funds. Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station.

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