Credit: FGCA, Facebook
Local butternut trees are being brought back from the brink of disaster – the Forest Gene Conservation Association has officially broken ground on a “butternut archive” just outside of Morrison Dam.
Chief Executive Officer Kerry McLaven, says the orchard outside of Exeter is one of six across the province from here to Ottawa,
The project is an attempt to take some of the strongest butternut specimens still thriving, preserve grafts from them, and consolidate them into one area to create some of the strongest specimens for future success.
McLaven says that it’s a collaborative effort that relies on partnerships with conservation authorities, landowners, and concerned citizens.
The installation was a partnership between the FGCA and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority.
Butternut trees are not only valuable for the lovely nuts that give them their name, but also for their cultural and practical contributions. The wood’s softness and carving potential make it a favorite among artisans, while its historical roles in indigenous cuisine and medicine imbue it with cultural importance.
Saving butternut trees has been a valuable and informative experience for the FGCA, says McLaven,
The knowledge gathered from working with butternut trees can hopefully be used to help save trees like ash, extending the impact of the FGCA’s efforts.
Written by: B. Shakyaver