Overview

• Researchers struggle to identify tree species that can survive in changing climates and replanting conditions.
• The gap between areas needing replanting and the ability to do so has grown to at least 3.8 million acres and could triple by 2050.
• The U.S. lacks sufficient seed collection, seedling production, and trained workers to meet replanting demands.
• Forest Service rules and lengthy environmental assessments delay replanting efforts, exacerbating the reforestation gap.
• Innovative strategies, including planting at different elevations and using different species, are being explored to improve survival rates.