MINNESOTA—Research by USDA Forest Service scientists has demonstrated that trees are good for people; in landfills in the Great Lakes Region, Forest Service science is finding that trees are good for nature, too.
On June 14, 2022, Northern Research Station researchers Elizabeth Rogers, Ryan Vinhal, Adam Wiese, Ron Zalesny, and Rich Hallett were co-hosts and presenters at the first-ever Great Lakes Phyto “Phyto Day.”

Great Lakes Phyto is an international partnership developing phytotechnologies to enhance ecosystem services in rural and urban areas. Phytoremediation is the use of plants, including hybrid poplar and willow trees, to clean up contamination from soils and water. The partnership was created as a result of collaborations among the Forest Service and its collaborators. The Great Lakes Phyto Team seeks to reduce impacts from degraded lands and waters in the Great Lakes Basin to maximize the social, ecological and economic benefits provided by the Great Lakes. In doing so, they strive to enhance quality of life, stewardship of ecosystem services and profitability for landowners by developing phytotechnology best management practices that are regionally adapted yet globally relevant.

Twenty-four people attended Phyto Day, representing 14 different organizations, including AECOM, Iowa State University, Mequon Nature Preserve, Michigan State University, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Sand County Environmental, The Greening of Detroit, University of Minnesota Duluth NRRI, University of Missouri, Environmental Protection Agency, Forest Service stations and Waste Management, which showcased agroforestry phytoremediation buffer systems at Boundary Road Landfill in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Participants had the opportunity to network with phytotechnology experts from government, academia and industry, and to learn about state-of-the-art phytotechnology research during a morning field tour of phytotechnologies systems and an afternoon of exciting, interactive presentations.

The day began with a field tour of poplar and willow phytotechnologies systems at Boundary Road Landfill, in which participants got to experience phytotechnologies firsthand. During the tour, researchers discussed the establishment, maintenance and monitoring of phytoremediation systems, as well as cutting-edge approaches for phytotechnologies applications. In the afternoon, presentations addressed topics including biotechnology, phytotechnologies, tree physiology, tree improvement, biomass production, engineered approaches to remediation, wastewater surveillance, green infrastructure, urban greening and stormwater mitigation.

Brent DeBauche and Molly Wagler of the University of Missouri, affiliates of the Northern Research Station, were also co-hosts and speakers for the event.