A Michigan State University researcher has received a $500,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to explore assisted tree migration as a way to protect the future productivity of Michigan forests.

Assisted migration is a process by which trees are intentionally moved within their native range or to new areas in which they are better suited.

The project is led by Jeremy Johnson, an assistant professor of forest genetics in the MSU Department of Forestry. He said that many of Michigan’s most important tree species, such as red pine, are at the southern end of their native ranges. As temperatures increase and precipitation becomes more unpredictable, these species may struggle to adjust.