In a world where ecosystems are constantly threatened, taking action to protect our planet is more important than ever. The nonprofit organization, Adopt-A-Hemlock, is doing just that in the Grand Haven area with its mission of sustaining through stewardship: ensuring our tree’s health, vitality, and survival.
Larry Burns and his high school-aged son Nathan often walk their dog in nearby Mulligan’s Hollow in Grand Haven. Both love trees, and two years ago, both began to notice that some of the hemlock, beech, and oak trees didn’t look right.
Through research, they discovered a perfect storm. All three species of trees comprising the bulk of Grand Haven’s “urban forest” were attacked by three diseases. They discovered that the hemlocks and oaks would die off if they were not treated, and sadly, there was no treatment for the Beech trees.
Around 2015, the first case of oak wilt was detected in Grand Haven’s urban forest, as was hemlock woolly adelgid and beech bark disease. It is highly unusual to have three lethal tree diseases show up at once.
Dr. Alexandra Locher and her Grand Valley State University students identified these threats. Then they drafted a preliminary Forest Management Plan entitled “Conservation of Grand Haven Parks, Duncan Woods, and Mulligan’s Hollow. The plan recommended:
- Prevent the spread of beech bark disease, oak wilt, and hemlock woolly adelgid
- Remove invasive vegetation
- Increase regeneration of oak and hemlock by 40%
- Increase regeneration of beech by 15%
- Monitor the parks annually
Adopt-A-Hemlock stepped in to begin to tackle the recommendations of the plan. In addition, Larry Burns has developed a network of experts nationwide who provided him with best practices, latest research, and advice. In the fall of 2022, Larry and Nathan formed a 501 c 3 nonprofit and called it “Adopt-A-Hemlock. As a citizen-led initiative, they work collaboratively with the city and the community to save trees.
Adopt-a-Hemlock has begun implementing treatments and created a more complete forest management plan. The primary project for 2023 is getting ahead of the existing oak wilt epicenters. Adopt-A-Hemlock has raised over $20,000 and treated three epicenters (more than 30 oak trees).
With continued support from the community and the City of Grand Haven, Adopt-A-Hemlock can continue this work and bring back a healthy urban forest. Simply put, their goal is to have 100% of donations applied to the prioritized needs of each of the three adjoining sites: Duncan Woods Park, Lake Forest Cemetery, and Mulligan’s Hollow Park.
For more information, go to https://adoptahemlock.org/
West Michigan Conservation Network 