Growing Forests, Building Futures: Hubbard SWCD’s Forestry Initiatives in Minnesota 12/27/2024
The Hubbard Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in Minnesota has advanced local conservation through innovative forestry and environmental programs. A key effort, supported by a 2023 NACD Urban and Community Conservation (UAC) Grant, has helped establish scalable forest gardens, enhancing food security, wildlife habitat, and the urban forest canopy. The work also included installing five food forest demonstration sites in Akeley, Nevis, Park Rapids, and Pine Point, complete with educational signs and scannable codes for more information. They also distributed garden kits featuring native plants and seeds with planting guides, boosting community engagement through tree sales and outreach events.
Hubbard County is home to the Minnesota State Forest Nursery, which has been operating since 1931. The nursery produces three to four million seedlings annually and relies on local seed collectors to supply much of the seeds needed to grow trees. Seed collection is vital to the nursery’s success because it ensures genetic diversity among seedling populations, making them more resilient to environmental challenges. Locally sourced seeds are adapted to specific regional conditions, improving the success rate of reforestation and habitat restoration projects while conserving native species and promoting biodiversity.
In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division, local schools and civic groups, and other partners, the Hubbard SWCD Seed and Cone Collection Program enlists students and community members to gather seeds and cones to supply to the Minnesota State Forest Nursery. Participants learn about tree identification, sustainable harvesting methods, and proper seed storage techniques. The program’s hands-on approach deepens community understanding of forestry while building a local seed bank to support long-term forest regeneration. Volunteers are provided with seed collection kits equipped with the necessary tools, such as seed bags, pruners, and storage containers. These educational workshops and community collection events encourage people of all ages to engage in conservation activities.
Hubbard SWCD is advancing conservation in the Upper Mississippi River Basin through its Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) grant-funded project, “Protecting Priority Lakes in the Upper Mississippi Basin: Managing Forests for Water Quality Protection.” This initiative focuses on partnering with forest landowners near priority lakes to maintain and enhance water quality through sustainable forest management. Forests play a crucial role in preserving the Upper Mississippi River Basin by absorbing rainfall, reducing runoff, and improving water infiltration, helping to safeguard the basin’s freshwater resources.
Through collaboration with lake associations, conservation groups, and local government partners, Hubbard SWCD will foster long-term environmental stewardship. Detailed lake management plans will be developed, outlining conservation priorities and actionable goals tailored to each lake’s watershed. Community engagement will remain central, with outreach events and workshops designed to empower landowners to adopt the best forestry practices. Landowners will receive customized technical forestry assistance, including personalized forest management plans that balance their conservation goals with water quality protection. Progress will be documented through comprehensive reports, maps, and success stories highlighting restored forests, improved water quality, and strengthened local conservation networks.
Hubbard SWCD’s forestry initiatives demonstrate a strong commitment to conservation, environmental education, and community engagement across a spectrum of community-focused programs and forest landowner engagement.
To learn more about Hubbard SWCD’s forestry work and other programs, please visit their website.