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Lauren Cook
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Planting efforts result in forest renewal and growth of millions of trees
TOMAHAWK, Wis. — Plum Creek today announced it has just completed its spring 2009 planting of approximately 1 million seedlings statewide. The effort is part of the company’s annual plan to regenerate and grow Wisconsin forests for future generations.
“It takes great patience to plant almost 1 million red pine seedlings by hand, one at a time,” said Scott Henker, senior resource manager for the Lake States Region. “Even when Mother Nature decided to let it snow just as our efforts were beginning, our foresters ensured that all of the seedlings were planted in a timely manner. They share the company’s commitment to the environment and sustainability.”
Over the past few weeks, planting took place in three areas of Wisconsin. Approximately 550,000 seedlings were planted in the Wisconsin Rapids area, 250,000 seedlings in the Tomahawk area and 275,000 seedlings in the Hayward area. Each year, Plum Creek plants approximately 70 million seedlings on its land nationwide.
According to Henker, the science behind the replanting process and the forest industry has changed over the years, and information gained from state-of-the-art technology is used by Plum Creek foresters to manage and track the forests where the company owns land. The replanting process begins with seeds adapted for rapid growth in a wide range of geographical locations. Professional growers produce seedlings in a controlled temperature, moisture, light and nutrient-rich environment. At the end of one growing season, after the seedlings have gone dormant, they are pulled from their containers, sorted and placed in boxes for over-wintering under controlled freezer temperatures. The seedlings are then thawed as needed in the spring and shipped to the field where they are quickly planted.
Seedlings planted this spring will grow for approximately 25 years before they are large enough to be harvested. At that time, some of the weaker trees will be cut down to enhance growing conditions to ensure the health and vigor of the remaining stronger trees, while also providing wood fiber for area paper and lumber mills.
“This careful management ensures that we have sustainable forest products for the future,” said Henker. “Replanting helps replenish forests, but also serves as habitat for endangered and other wildlife in our woods. Plum Creek is proud to do its part for the environment, and we are committed to sustainable forestry practices. There’s so much that depends on it.”
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Plum Creek is the largest and most geographically diverse private landowner in the nation, with approximately 7 million acres of timberlands in major timber producing regions of the United States and wood products manufacturing facilities in the Northwest. In Wisconsin, Plum Creek practices sustainable forestry on all of its approximately 320,000 acres of forestland in 26 counties throughout the state. For more information on Plum Creek in Wisconsin, visit http://www.plumcreek.com/wisconsin.
