News

Many members of the Forest Resources community were featured in Friends of the Boundary Waters' brand-new Boreal Compass Substack. 

Their first post focuses on the potential impacts on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness after the 2026 wildfires. It is co-authored by Forest Resources Adjunct and NRSM alumnus Sam Reed and Lee Frelich, a Forest Resources researcher and Reed’s former PhD advisor. It draws on historic research into wildfire impacts and highlights current research from Forest Resources and beyond, including how you can get involved in understanding these fire mysteries.

Anna Yang, PhD, a research fellow with the Montgomery Lab, is featured in an MITPPC article highlighting her career and research interests. 

Many are concerned and curious about the frequency and intensity of recent wildfires. What factors are leading to them? What changes could they bring? And is this the new normal? The Star Tribune spoke with Forest Resources, Extension, and Cloquet Forestry Center experts to learn about wildfire and forest regeneration cycles, the unique factors leading to the most recent fire, and what this could indicate about the future of our boreal forests. 

Forest Resources Researcher Lee Frelich joined MPR News’s Minnesota Now with host Nina Moini to provide ecological context on proposed federal changes to the 2001 Roadless Rule, which currently protects roughly 62,000 acres in northern Minnesota. 

As active wildfire activity continues to impact northern Minnesota, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and adjacent boreal forest regions across Canada, Forest Resources Researcher Lee Frelich has been lending his scientific expertise to local and national news outlets. As the director of the Center for Forest Ecology with extensive experience studying forest dynamics, large-scale natural disturbances, and long-term ecosystem change, Frelich provides essential background on the ecological mechanics driving these events.

Department of Forest Resources Associate Professor Danielle Ignace is featured in the “Work-Life Balance” career issue of Eos, the digital publication of the American Geophysical Union (AGU). The profile explores her career path as an Indigenous scholar, her ecophysiology research, and her commitment to fostering an inclusive scientific community.

Professor Emeritus Hans Gregersen died on June 24, 2026, at the age of 87. An international leader in forest economics, he is remembered for playing a central role in redefining the field of forestry to emphasize the livelihoods, stewardship, and rights of people and communities rather than simply industrial and governmental uses. He will be greatly missed. 

Professor Emeritis Alvin (Al) Alm passed away on Thursday, July 23rd, 2026, at the age of 90. His teaching, research, and service played an important role in forestry education at the University of Minnesota, with lasting impact on the state’s forest lands and emerging foresters alike. He will be greatly missed. 

Forest Resources researcher Ryan Murphy is featured in a Grist article examining nationwide efforts to breed disease-resistant American elms and restore the iconic species to urban and natural landscapes.

Kyle Gill, Director of Operations and Forest Stewardship at the Cloquet Forestry Center, is featured in an MPR News story exploring the ecological role of wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness following recent blazes.