Theft Of Black Spruce Tips And Balsam Branches: A Growing Concern

File this under something I've never really overthought during the holidays. Are you familiar with those Christmas planters? The ones with the black spruce tips, boughs of balsam, ornaments, tinsel, etc. Those branches are big businesses, as they've been labeled 'green gold'.

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Holiday pots are big business to some folks, as you can get anywhere from $45-70 for a holiday pot, depending on what's in it, and how big it is. I could see the temptation of some 'quick cash'.

I didn't realize that this was a persistent problem that had been going on in Northern Minnesota until I saw something recently from MPR News. MPR is the one that dubbed the holiday tree trimmings as green gold, they spoke with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and it turns out black spruce tips and balsam branches can be big business if you're able to get enough volume. The problem is that some people see our state forests as the perfect 'shopping' center to fulfill their needs.

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MPR went on to clarify that while many people go about harvesting the times for their holiday planter the legal way, there are still some that don't follow the rules, but that is a very small number.

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"The theft that’s occurring makes up a tiny fraction of the legitimate market for decorative holiday greenery in northern Minnesota. Every year, land managers for the Minnesota DNR, the U.S. Forest Service and counties issue permits to cut tens of thousands of spruce tops and other items from the state’s northern forests."

Who knew that something as simple as a tree top could be so valuable?