Urban Tree Supply Forum

Addressing Regional Tree Supply Challenges and Opportunities

Hosted: August 6, 2024

Thank you so much to all who participated in the day-long virtual forum where urban forestry practitioners and stakeholders from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed discussed solutions to challenges in the urban tree supply chain, including the following topics:

  • regional tree supply initiatives and partnerships
  • current urban tree supply research
  • green industry workforce development
  • nursery standards for quality trees
  • contract growing

This forum was part of a larger project called “Addressing Regional Tree Supply Challenges and Opportunities.” Please check out the reports and final webinar from this project (coming soon):

Webinar: Addressing urban tree supply challenges in the Chesapeake Bay watershed

View the Urban Tree Supply Forum sessions:

  • Welcome and project overviewKesha Braunskill, USFS recording
  • Call to Action – Solution Pathway to Scale UpJehane Samaha, USFS recording, slides
  • Jam Board 1 – “What species would you like to see in production that are currently unavailable?”Andrew Koeser, University of Florida
  • Findings from a Rapid Assessment of Urban Tree Supply Stakeholders in the Chesapeake Bay WatershedDeb Hilbert, University of Floridarecording, slides
  • Jam Board 2 – “What changes are needed in your industry and others to overcome challenges in sourcing high-quality, climate-ready trees for urban landscapes?”Andrew Koeser, University of Florida
  • Innovative Nursery Production PartnershipsEarl Eutsler, District DOT and Andrew Schichtel, Casey Treesrecording, slides 1, slides 2
  • The Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Nursery Project: Diversifying Native Trees for the Urban Trees Grant ProgramLianna Gomori-Ruben, Chesapeake Bay Trustrecording, slides
  • Tree Industry Innovations through Contract GrowingTrinity Pierce, Chicago Region Trees Initiativerecording, slides
  • Permitting, size requirements, and management familiarity drive landscape architects’ tree specification choices for public clientsGrant Thompson, RDG Planning and Designrecording, slides
  • Q&A with Speakers – Chris Riley (moderator) with Lianna, Trinity, and Grantrecording
  • Nursery Grades & Standards and RPG Mike Marshall, Marshall Tree Farm recording, slides
  • Tree Nursery Workforce DevelopmentKelly Lewis, Ruppert Nurseriesrecording
  • NYC Parks Tree Procurement ContractsJames Kaechele, NYC Parksrecording
  • Q&A with Speakers Chris Riley (moderator) with Mike, Kelly, and Jamesrecording
  • Closing RemarksKesha Braunskill, USFSrecording

This project is led by University of Florida researchers and partners and is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.

Thanks to our project funders and supporters!

EPA logo in blue and green.Chesapeake Bay Program logoChesapeake Bay Trust logoUF IFAS logoUS Forest Service logo