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To prepare for the climate of tomorrow, foresters are branching out

Summary

In Washington’s Marckworth State Forest, conservationists are experimenting with “assisted migration” by planting trees from warmer, drier regions to build resilience against climate change. The approach, part of a reforestation project led by the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, aims to prepare forests for future climates rather than current conditions. Seedlings from Southern Oregon and California are being used in Washington to help forests withstand hotter, drier summers. While still controversial, with concerns about disrupting local ecosystems, early results show promise. These efforts may offer a path forward for sustainable forest management in a warming world.

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