Sustainable Dead Fall Reclamation and Tree Planting

Voyageur Island’s eco-system is monitored and maintained to ensure minimal impact and sustainable use. Designated paths link buildings and activity areas. Other areas are designated as wild, untouched by foot or development. Participants are asked to remain on designated paths and are more than pleased to comply once they understand the potential impact of wandering through the undergrowth of this Island’s pristine areas. As with every forest and eco-system, there is natural tree loss. With many “old growth” trees, some up to 500-600 years old, we regenerate Voyageur Island every year by planting indigenous white and red pine species.

As this area’s vegetation thrives on a fire regime, prescribed burns to replicate natural ecosystem succession are not possible, therefore this is our way of cleaning understory to allow new growth and cycling for a healthy Voyageur Island community.  VWP harvests dead fall for our wood-burning sauna, uses smaller branches for mulch on paths (which is less erosive than gravel and returns organic matter to the soil on site) as well as leaving vegetation and detritus for natural process.