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Crosby Farm Regional Park Silvicultural Study

Progress

  • Not started
  • Planning
  • In process
  • Completed
On time

This is a twenty-year study, with initial data to be interpreted in 2023

Silviculture is the process of planting and maintaining trees to establish a healthy forest. In 2020, a twenty yearlong silvicultural study was initiated at Crosby Farm Regional Park (Crosby Farm) to research how a floodplain forest, in an urban setting, will respond and adapt to climate change. One thousand trees were planted in twenty-four test plots in Crosby Farm to determine which tree species are best able to thrive in a changing environment. The Crosby Farm study is part of a larger network of projects in the United States and Canada lead by project partners in the Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) network.

The Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) research plots in Crosby Farm Regional Park (Crosby Farm) are located within The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA), a 72 milelong national park. The ASCC installation within Crosby Farm is the first Affiliate ASCC project to be planned and implemented in an urban setting. The study is located within a floodplain forest ecosystem, dominated by an ash-elm mixed lowland hardwood forest type. The Crosby Farm ASCC research plots are designed to be a ‘teaching forest’ where the public can see, learn about, and participate in scientific research. Volunteers can join the effort by inspecting the plots, collecting data, or joining the Crosby Crew, a group that gathers regularly to maintain the plots. More information is available on Mississippi Park Connection's website at https://parkconnection.org/ascc

Project partners for the Crosby Farm Regional Park ASCC study include Saint Paul Parks & Recreation, Mississippi Park Connection, University of Minnesota, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science - USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, and Colorado State University, and others.

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Tasks

What are we doing?

  • Todo12/31/2023

    Initial findings summary

    Project partners will evaluate research data and provide a summary of early-project findings.

What has been done?

  • Done05/31/2020

    Plant trees

    1,000 trees planted in 24 research plots

Timeline

4/1/2020 → 12/31/2041

Category

Contact persons

  • Adam Robbins
    Natural Resources Supervisor
    City of Saint Paul
Information updated 02/10/2023