DULUTH - GRAND MARAIS, MM. - April 18, 2008 - The "Green Up" provides a positive and productive way for anyone to be involved in post-fire efforts on the Forest. Planting long-lived red and white pine trees will help address public concerns as well as Forest Service objectives for scenic quality and forest health. Because the planting is on public lands participants will be able to visit the trees in the years and decades to come.
Like a tree growing from a small seed, the Gunflint Green Up, originally planned to be a one-day public planting event on May 3, has expanded toa full weekend of activities. Several partners are working together tooffer a schedule that includes presentations, music, a dance, and amarathon in addition to the main event- planting approximately 75,000tree seedlings on sites along the Gunflint Trail that were impacted bythe Ham Lake Fire.
Following a post-fire assessment, the Superior National Forest completedthe required environmental analysis to clear the way for reforestationin priority areas on national forest lands, including those identifiedby local interests. The Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway Committeeapproached the Superior National Forest about the possibility for publicparticipation in the planting along the Gunflint Trail.
Forest Service staff has been working with the Scenic Byway Committeeand other partners over the past months in planning logistics for thepublic tree planting event and for hosting an estimated 500 volunteers.
Forest Service staff will orientate participants and will be at eachplanting site to provide guidance to volunteers, in addition topresenting interpretive programs and informational displays.
Planting locations include the vicinities of Trail's End Campground,Chik-Wauk Museum, the Seagull Lake and Round Lake public landings,Seagull Guard Station, and the Iron Lake Campground. All of the planting sites are on federal land within the Superior National Forest andoutside the BWCAW.
On-line pre-registration via the web site by April 22 is very importantto help organizers with planning and also to be sure participants getdirections about where to go and what to bring. A participation feecovers three meals, a T-shirt and access to all of the activities. Fo rmore information and to register, see: www.gunflintgreenup.com.
More than 250 volunteers are already registered and there are still openings.
Tree seedlings for the Green-up event are being donated by the Iron Range Resources Nursery, Hedstrom Lumber Company, and the Quetico Superior Foundation. In addition, the Forest Service will be planting400 acres with pine seedlings and aerial seeding 270 acres with jackpine and spruce.