Canadian seeds get an out-of-this-world trip with astronaut
Five tree species representing Canada's diverse forests are hitching a ride around the moon with the astronauts aboard Artemis II. The Weather Network spoke with the National Tree Seed Centre about their inclusion on the mission.
Canadian tree seeds are about to do a lunar flyby with astronaut Jeremy Hansen as Artemis II becomes the first crewed mission to the moon since 1972.
The Canadian Forest Service (CSF) identified five tree species that represent the diversity of the country's forests, packed up by staff at the National Tree Seed Centre in Fredericton, N.B.
“This is mostly a symbolic mission. The seeds have been placed in separate pockets of a heat-sealed foil envelope, looks like five aluminum raviolis stuck together,” said Darren Derbowka, National Tree Seed Centre co-ordinator.
In total, 2,500 seed fit into the packages that contain five tree species, and the plan is to plant them all once they return from space.
Artemis II livestream. (NASA TV)
“We’ll compare the differences between the seed that went to space and the seed that never went to space. Ultimately, our goal is to be able to plant these tree in spaces where people can interact with them, perhaps be inspired to think about research, to think about conservation," said Derbowka.
One of the species headed by the moon is lodgepole pine, representing Western Canada. It is one that’s been heavily challenged by wildfire and the mountain pine beetle in recent years. It was chosen because it is a flagship for the warnings of climate change.
The others include the following:
Eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
Known for its resilience and strength, it is one of four sacred medicines that are important to many Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
Red maple (Acer rubrum)
(Nathan Coleman)
Chosen for its iconic red leaf, the symbol of the Canadian flag.
White birch (Betula papyrifera)
Selected as an early successional species with a broad distribution across Canada.
Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)
Selected as a sentinel tree of the North, the species stands tall above the forest canopy.
The National Tree Seed Centre has more than 13,000 unique seed collections from more than 200 tree and shrub species, and holds the most diverse collection of its kind in Canada.
The seeds are collected and maintained to help protect and restore Canada’s forests for generations to come.