State land reforestation, Bemidji area

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News Releases
State land reforestation, Bemidji area
(Released July 15, 2010)


Herbicides will be applied to approximately 50 acres of state land in the Bemidji area in an effort to control vegetation and help establish new forests. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that the applications will begin around mid July and end about Aug. 15. All sites treated with herbicides will be signed.

 The DNR plants trees on state lands to reforest harvested areas, provide wildlife habitat, protect watershed values and maintain the quality of state forests. Professional foresters determine the tree species appropriate for the site.  The DNR hires private contractors to do the actual planting. Conifers are the major species planted. About 800,000 white pines are planted on Minnesota’s forests annually. Many other native tree species are also planted. Oak and other hardwoods, for example, are widely planted in the state forests of southeastern Minnesota. “This year, local DNR foresters have planted over 286 acres in the Bemidji Area during  April and May,” said Nick Severson, DNR forester, Bemidji.  “Over 218,000 trees, predominantly pines and spruces have been hand planted on sites prepared during the past year.  In addition, the Bemidji area will be doing 177 acres of mechanical site preparation and release.”       In the last 10 years, the DNR has planted or seeded close to 90,000 acres of state forest land.   For more information on planting and contracts, contact Severson at 218-694-2146.