Enhancing Reforestation Success in Drought-Prone Regions: Insights from a Field Experiment on Douglas-fir Seedlings

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM MST

Location: Embassy Suites, Elderberry

Speaker(s)

VE

Vovener de Verlands Edmond, n/a (he/him/his)

Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho, United States

Author(s)

Andrew Nelson, Ph.D (he/him/his)

Tom A. Alberg and Judith Beck Endowed Chair of Native Plant Regeneration
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho, United States

Amid escalating drought challenges, resilient seedlings are vital for reforestation success. This out-planting study highlights drought-conditioned seedlings' resilience, with enhanced survival and biomass allocation. Low-elevation Douglas-fir seedlings, conditioned to moderate stress, grew taller, while extreme stress seedlings showed 98% survival. These findings hold implications for nursery practices and forest management.

Learning Objectives:

Upon the completion, participants will be able to describe the importance of producing drought-resistant seedlings as a means of mitigating the effects of climate change on reforestation initiatives
Upon the completion, participant will learn the practical implications of conditioning Douglas-fir seedlings to different water stress levels and durations for enhancing survival rates and biomass allocation in the field.
Upon completion, participants will be able to apply research outcomes pertaining to seedling nursery production and forest management techniques to support reforestation initiatives.