News & Stories

Boundary Waters wildfires bring grief over forest loss, but hope for long-term renewal

July 23, 2026

For the canoeists and campers who share a deep affinity for the rocky, pine-studded forests and lakes of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, there is a sense of shared grief over the massive wildfires that continue to burn across the region.

But while fire is destructive in the short-term, in the long-term it's regenerative. Wildfire breathes new life into the boreal forests of northern Minnesota.

Story and photos by MPRNews


What's fueling northeastern Minnesota's Wildfires?

July 15, 2026

A conversation with University of Minnesota forest ecologist Lee Frelich about what's behind the fires burning in and near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, why they're so difficult to contain, and what we can do to reduce wildfire risk.

Story and photos by MPRNews


University of Minnesota CFANS and CBS: Introducing the Statewide Impact Map

February 26, 2026

New interactive map displays data across the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences' 10 Resource and Outreach Centers and the College of Biological Sciences' specialized biological stations.


New research initiatives explore the future of Minnesota's wilderness

April 14, 2026

The Quetico-Superior border region is more than just a crown jewel of Minnesota’s landscape. It is a living laboratory. Through the Hubachek Wilderness Research Center, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) has awarded funding to four innovative research projects.


View From the Woods 2025

January 7, 2026

Read about what's been going on at the Cloquet Forestry Center and Hubachek Wilderness Research Center over the last year. 


Dr. Rebecca Montgomery named next F. B. Hubachek Senior Endowed Chair in Forestry

January 28, 2025

She is the second honoree to receive this designation, following Dr. Peter Reich, who initiated the role in 1991.


View From the Woods 2024

January 14, 2025

Check out the 2024 recap newsletter from the Cloquet Forestry and Hubachek Wilderness Research Centers.


Members of the Board of Regents visit U of M research and outreach sites in northeast Minnesota

October 30, 2024

On October 21 and 22, Board of Regents Chair Janie Mayeron and Regents Mike Kenyanya, James Farnsworth, and Tadd Johnson visited several University of Minnesota Research and Outreach Centers in northeast Minnesota to get a better sense of the U of M’s presence and programming in the region.


Meet the Director - Kyle Gill

August 2, 2024

Read more to learn about the new Director of Operations & Forest Stewardship for the Cloquet Forestry Center (CFC) and Hubachek Wilderness Research Center (HWRC). Kyle Gill started in this role in April of 2024. Prior to this, Kyle served as the Forest Manager and Research Coordinator for the UMN Experimental Forests since 2015. 


Legacy Q&A with Andy David

April 10, 2024

Join us in congratulating Andy David, current Director of Operations for the Cloquet Forestry Center and Hubachek Wilderness Research Center, on his upcoming retirement. Read more to find out what Andy is looking forward to in his retirement, and the things he will miss most from his time with the U of M.


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