"I plant trees, I prune trees, I remove trees," says City Forester for the City of Duluth Clark Christenson. As simple as that list sounds, the details shine a light on the complexity of the care required to maintain Duluth's green space.
Regarding planting, Christenson is working on diversifying the species of trees in Duluth. "Yellowwood is one that's surprisingly doing really well," says Christenson who is looking south to trees that may fare better considering warming temperatures due to climate change.
Planning for the future though is often supplanted with present needs. "We're a small thunderstorm away from having two weeks of work that we didn't plan on," says Christenson who also takes the lead when it comes to clean-up and removal of downed trees on city property. "It's impossible to plan for."
And some problems attack from the inside out. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an ongoing problem. The insect has been destroying boulevard trees and those in park spaces for quite some time. Community outreach regarding EAB is underway. Residents can expect information via a press release later today.
For more details and information, you can check out the City of Duluth Forestry webpage.