PROJECT PIVOT (see wide project timelines above)

Old Plan: This summer, ERVCC is recruiting citizen scientists to collect samples from aspen suspected of being clonal. If you are interested, contact ERVCC. Summer 2025 or possibly spring 2026 is our target date for this project. We are currently working with Innotech and a forester at the U of A to get our protocols sorted. Because of the expense involved, we might have to do some fundraising before proceeding.

New Plan: With the help of an academic from U of A, ERVCC has decided to modify this program. We will instead do an educational program on Populus Tremuloides combined with one field trip. The genetic testing will be significantly reduced if not eliminated. The reason for this pivot is that we realized the genetics of Aspen is so rich and complex that ERVCC could spend over 12,000K on genetic testing and still not be able to tell a definitive story regarding even one small stand of Aspen in our valley. Keep an eye on this events page for further updates. In the meantime, please see our Populus Tremuloides story under the “kin” tab.