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1. Ash Seed Collection on the Chippewa National Forest Title text here 2010 Accomplishments Emerald ash borer continues its advance. Once it arrives in our area, all ash trees will be threatened. In 2009, the Chippewa National Forest began a seed collection program to preserve genetic diversity of our ash species (F. nigra and F. pennsylvanica). This seed will eventually be used to restore ecosystems. To date we have identified 500 individual trees, 250 green ash and 250 black ash, from which to collect seed from. Following protocols established by the National Seed Lab, we have tagged these trees, taken photographs of the bark and tree profile, and collected leaf and branch vouchers. All the trees were visited and seed was collected from 157 of these ash in FY2010. Only five of these were black ash, and 152 were green ash. The ash seed crop was poor in 2010. Collections will continue until seed from all identified trees is secured. Figure 2. Black Ash Seed • Year Awarded: initial award in 2010 • Project completion: 2016 • Report number: 3 of 5 • Expenditures: • FY10 $9,793 • Partner: USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station and USDA FS National Seed Laboratory • Contact Person & phone number: • Gary Swanson (218) 335-8652 Figure 1. Black Ash Forest. Photo: Michael Benedict UMN NRRI Chippewa National Forest 200 ASH Ave Cass Lake Minnesota 56633