Relate and restore: Bridging research and land management for Minnesota forests

Through a series of collaborative projects, researchers and land managers at the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center (MITPPC) and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community have found that establishing diverse native plant communities helps suppress buckthorn regeneration after removal while also supporting broader forest restoration goals.

July 8, 2026
Forests & Natural Resources

Read the story on the MITTPC website. 

Buckthorn removal comparison in a forest.
Dense stands of common buckthorn can block light from reaching the forest floor, suppressing native wildflowers and tree regeneration (left). After clearing buckthorn, land stewards sow seeds of native sedges, grasses, and forbs to give the forest floor the opportunity to regenerate (right). These research areas are within the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Image credit: Domini Brown