The Nature Conservancy plants nearly 450,000 trees in Cook County, part of a record-breaking effort in Northern Minnesota
Aug 07, 2025 10:18AM ● By Content Editor
Photo: The Nature Conservancy
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - August 7, 2025
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and three county land departments, recently announced a record-breaking tree planting initiative in northern Minnesota. This year, the organization planted 2.5 million native and climate-hardy trees, marking the second consecutive year of planting more than two million seedlings.
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - August 7, 2025
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and three county land departments, recently announced a record-breaking tree planting initiative in northern Minnesota. This year, the organization planted 2.5 million native and climate-hardy trees, marking the second consecutive year of planting more than two million seedlings.
Ellie Scholtz, communications manager for TNC in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, told Boreal Community Media that the organization planted 448,784 trees across 46 sites in Cook County, covering a total of 1,494 acres. In addition to Cook County, seedlings were also planted on public lands across Lake, Saint Louis, Itasca, Cass, and Carlton counties. The total project includes 5,810 acres of national forest, state forest, state park, and county-managed forest lands.
Specifically, planting areas included 1.8 miles along Highway 61 and 41 miles of stream, river, and lakeshore connecting to Lake Superior, according to a press release from TNC. In addition, 1,740 acres of moose habitat were included in collaboration with the Ruffed Grouse Society and the Minnesota Moose Habitat Collaborative, a group of federal, state, county, tribal, and conservation organizations that formed to help improve habitats in prime moose territory (including Cook County and the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa). The Collaborative is led by the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association.
The project also assisted recovery efforts due to damage from the Brimson area wildfires that burned thousands of acres this past spring by planting 5,100 trees on 11 acres of burned land. TNC isn't the only organization in the area to contribute to forest recovery efforts in fire-affected areas. Lutsen-based Let's Plant Trees donated seedlings earlier this year.
TNC credits the record-breaking planting accomplishment to the "hard work" of 65 seasonal, non-immigrant guest workers from Latin America. According to the TNC, these workers "plant more than 85% of the trees planted in the U.S. each year on temporary visas," and that an important component of the TNC tree planting program is to ensure that "these highly skilled workers are well compensated, cared for, and appreciated."
The project also assisted recovery efforts due to damage from the Brimson area wildfires that burned thousands of acres this past spring by planting 5,100 trees on 11 acres of burned land. TNC isn't the only organization in the area to contribute to forest recovery efforts in fire-affected areas. Lutsen-based Let's Plant Trees donated seedlings earlier this year.
TNC credits the record-breaking planting accomplishment to the "hard work" of 65 seasonal, non-immigrant guest workers from Latin America. According to the TNC, these workers "plant more than 85% of the trees planted in the U.S. each year on temporary visas," and that an important component of the TNC tree planting program is to ensure that "these highly skilled workers are well compensated, cared for, and appreciated."
