Restoring Wisconsin’s Forests: White Pine, Red Oak, Hemlock & Tamarack Take Root
Restoring Wisconsin’s National Forests: White Pine, Red Oak, Hemlock & Tamarack Take Root
Wisconsin’s forest landscapes have gone through major changes over the last century. Historic logging, wildfires, invasive pests, and land-use changes left many areas in need of renewal. Today, reforestation efforts across Wisconsin’s National Forests — including the Chequamegon-Nicolet — are helping restore iconic tree species that once defined this region: eastern white pine, red oak, eastern hemlock, and tamarack.
By planting new trees in areas where forests were lost or damaged, foresters are rebuilding thriving ecosystems that will benefit people and wildlife for generations.
🌲 Bringing Back Eastern White Pine
White pine was once the dominant tree across northern Wisconsin — especially prized by early loggers for its tall, straight trunks. But massive timber harvests in the late 1800s and early 1900s drastically reduced white pine populations.
Reforestation projects are now working to re-establish white pine where it historically flourished. This fast-growing native species:
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Provides excellent cover and winter shelter for wildlife
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Stores large amounts of carbon as it matures
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Helps rebuild multi-layered forest structure and long-term diversity
White pine seedlings planted today will grow into the towering giants Wisconsin’s forests were once known for.
🌲 Strengthening Forest Resilience with Eastern Hemlock
Eastern hemlock adds cool, shaded habitat and stabilizes streambanks — making it essential for healthy waterways and cold-water fisheries. But Wisconsin has seen steep declines in hemlock due to over-harvesting and the spread of hemlock woolly adelgid in other states.
Planting hemlock in suitable habitat supports:
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Better water quality and more stable trout streams
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Increased biodiversity in northern hardwood forests
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Future seed sources that help rebuild the species’ range
Restoring hemlock helps preserve a uniquely northern forest environment rich in wildlife.
🌲 Restoring Wetlands with Tamarack
Tamarack (also known as American larch) is one of the few deciduous conifers — it turns golden in autumn and drops its needles in winter. Once widespread in northern bogs and wetlands, tamarack is now being replanted to offset losses from pests like the larch sawfly and changes in hydrology.
Why tamarack matters:
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Supports marsh birds, beavers, and rare bog species
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Stabilizes wetland soils and improves water storage
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Adds resilience to habitats vulnerable to climate shifts
Replanting tamarack ensures Wisconsin’s wetlands continue to support rich ecosystems.
🌱 Why Reforestation Matters
Tree planting in National Forests helps ensure that:
✔ Forests damaged by harvest, storms, or pests recover quickly
✔ Wildlife habitat and food sources are restored
✔ More carbon is captured and stored in living forests
✔ Future generations can enjoy healthy woodlands and clean air
Each new seedling nurtures long-term forest health while preserving Wisconsin’s natural heritage.
A Living Forest Legacy
The work being done today in Wisconsin’s National Forests ensures that iconic northern tree species — white pine, hemlock, and tamarack — continue to define the landscape for decades to come.
As these young seedlings grow into mature forests, they will protect wildlife, strengthen local ecosystems, and keep Wisconsin wild, green, and thriving.
Explore Wisconsin’s Living Reforestation Map
If you’d like to see where tree planting is actually happening on the ground, you can explore our interactive map of past and present reforestation locations across Wisconsin’s forests:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/edit?mid=1y-6CxtezVvxZro-2cH_T47IsMENWERk&usp=sharing
Zoom in to view specific project areas, follow along stream corridors and ridgelines, and get a real sense of how white pine, red oak, hemlock, and tamarack trees are being re-established across the landscape.
