Climate-Ready Woodlands: Tree Steward Journal

About the project

Climate scientists with the USDA Forest Service have identified a number of species with the potential for migration into new regions as the climate continues to shift. However, many people may already be experimenting with planting these species outside of their normal range. 

If you have planted any of the species indicated on the migration potential list for your area, we would like to learn from you! There is a great deal that is unknown about these species in Minnesota, and your information could help researchers fill in vital knowledge gaps.

Volunteers who join the project will be asked to fill out a "tree journal" — an open-ended survey with questions about your site location and conditions, tree species and management, and observations about tree and ecosystem health.

Follow the steps below to join the project and help gather critical data for researchers to assess the survival, health and ecological interactions of these trees in Minnesota. 

Get involved


Step 1: Review the species of interest for your region

Become familiar with the list of migration potential species for your ecoregion to find out if you have any of the species listed for your region planted on your property.


Step 2: Register for the project

Registering for the project allows us to communicate with you about the project, ask follow up questions, and send you information on other volunteer opportunities. Please tell us a bit about yourself in this short form (make sure to click "Submit" when you're finished).

Step 3: Record stewardship information

After you register for the project, Extension forester Angie Gupta will send you a personalized “tree journal” document for you to record observations and stewardship activities for the migration potential trees on your property.

Questions or comments? Contact Angela Gupta, agupta@umn.edu