A history of tree bounties in the upper midwestern United States: North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota

ABSTRACT

Tree bounties were a historical mechanism to facilitate afforestation. This study investigates how citizens participated in historical tree bounty programmes in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Although tree bounties in the United States have been around for centuries, there has been very little published literature on how participants used them. Six hundred and one tree bounty claims from North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota were examined and statistically analysed with t-tests. For example, it was found that for Ward County, North Dakota, box elder trees, cottonwood, willow, and poplar trees were more commonly planted; an average of 909 trees were planted per acre, the majority of applicants had homesteaded the land, and the average number of trees planted covered two acres. A statistically significant difference occurred where more claimants planted trees in northeast and northwest directions. The types of trees planted; the number of trees planted per acre; the number of times tree bounty claims were submitted; and incentives are discussed. Ideas for future research include expanding the research study and further understanding the breakdown of tree bounties for future improvement.

KEYWORDS:

• Tree bounty
• bounties
• tree planting
• history
• afforestation

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank the historical societies that assisted with the archives associated with this research, the State Historical Society of North Dakota, South Dakota State Historical Society, and the Minnesota Historical Society. The author would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers who improved earlier versions of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kelsey Gilcrease

Kelsey Gilcrease obtained her Bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology at the University of Minnesota and a MPhil in Geography, Planning, and Environmental Management at the University of Queensland. She is a biology lab., ecology, and bioethics instructor in the Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Health Sciences at South Dakota School of Mines. Her main research interests are historical ecology, biogeography, wildlife conservation, and population ecology.