WDET’s environmental reporting branches out in this series all about trees in Michigan. Reporters cover urban tree plantings, the state of forests management in Michigan and much more.
Tree coverage is supported by the Department of Natural Resources.
Recent
Oakland County upgrades parks system with ‘Mission 26’
Mission 26 aims to help Oakland County’s residents easily access the outdoors, especially in urban areas.
The Big Tree Hunt contest has come to a close. What did participants find?
Awards were given to the biggest tree of each county, the largest white pine—Michigan’s state tree—the largest find by someone 16 years or younger, and the largest find of anyone over the age of 16.
Old-growth forest at Independence Oaks reveals Indigenous past
Independence Oaks County Park sits near historic Native American trail routes, and contains the headwaters of the Clinton River—once a major travel route for the Anishinaabe across what is now southeast Michigan.
The Metro: How to choose the right tree for the right place in 2026
A new 57 page guide rates tree species for climate change resiliency in Michigan.
CuriosiD: From seed to star, a Christmas tradition takes root
A WDET listener wanted to know what happened to the big tree in Campus Martius after the holiday season… but first, we take a look at Michigan’s Christmas tree industry to provide more context.
DNR makes progress in months-long ice storm cleanup
The DNR took a break from cleanup during Michigan’s firearms deer hunting season. But crews will try to pick up as much debris as they can before heavy snow forces them to wait until the spring to resume.
Spotting the invasive spotted lanternfly in Dearborn
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect from China that feeds on tree sap and poses a threat to Michigan’s ecosystems and agriculture.
Rochester’s ‘micro forest’ celebrates a successful season
This past spring, the city of Rochester became home to a ‘micro forest,’ a dense grove of trees and shrubs. How is it faring after a full growing season?
The Metro: The case for a Detroit land conservancy
Detroit Future City is creating a conservancy to protect and steward the land today and well into the future.
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