Earth Is Our Mother Tree Plantings
Written by Elaina Burns, Environmental Stewardship Manager, Finger Lakes Region
You may have noticed many ash trees onsite have rapidly declined over the last few years. The invasive emerald ash borer beetle was first discovered in NY in 2009 and has since decimated once thriving ash populations. Environmental Stewardship staff are targeting these areas for tree plantings along the Earth Is Our Mother trail. Our goals with these plantings are to help restore the forest ecosystem, support healthy ecological function, and provide food and habitat for wildlife. Staff have planted 50 native trees so far including American plum, black cherry, red oak, and bitternut hickory. These fire-resistant native trees were grown by the Plant Materials Program which sustainably collects and propagates native seeds for restoration projects at Parks in the Finger Lakes Region. “Take a Peek” into the forest the next time you’re on the trail to check out our forest recovery efforts!
