Addressing Regional Tree Supply Challenges and Opportunities

Creating a Sustainable Supply of Quality, Diverse Trees for Urban Areas in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

As tree planting initiatives expand, so does the strain on existing supply chains, as buyers seek high-quality and diverse planting palettes. To address limitations in urban tree supply, the Chesapeake Bay Trust and USDA Forest Service—along with research partners at the University of Florida, the USDA Forest Service Baltimore Field Station, and Bartlett Tree Experts—conducted focus groups across the Chesapeake Bay area and hosted a virtual summit. These efforts brought together experts in nursery production, landscape design, and urban forestry to discuss challenges and solutions.

Materials

• Final Report: Addressing Regional Tree Supply Challenges and Opportunities
• Tree Supply Report Rapid Summary
• Tree Supply Challenges Factsheet
• Tree Supply Case Studies:
  • Case Study: The Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Nursery Project
  • Case Study: Casey Trees and The District Department of Transportation
  • Case Study: Florida Grades and Standards
  • Case Study: New York City Parks
  • Case Study: The Chicago Regional Trees Initiative

Events

Webinar: Addressing Urban Tree Supply Challenges in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Hosted: January 22, 2025

Slides

Recording:

Urban Tree Supply Forum

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.”

View the Urban Tree Supply Forum sessions:

• Welcome and project overview – Kesha Braunskill, USFS – recording
• Call to Action – Solution Pathway to Scale Up – Jehane 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 Watershed – Deb Hilbert, University of Florida – recording, 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 Partnerships – Earl Eutsler, District DOT and Andrew Schichtel, Casey Trees – recording, slides 1, slides 2
• The Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Nursery Project: Diversifying Native Trees for the Urban Trees Grant Program – Lianna Gomori-Ruben, Chesapeake Bay Trust – recording, slides
• Tree Industry Innovations through Contract Growing – Trinity Pierce, Chicago Region Trees Initiative – recording, slides
• Permitting, size requirements, and management familiarity drive landscape architects’ tree specification choices for public clients – Grant Thompson, RDG Planning and Design – recording, slides
• Q&A with Speakers – Chris Riley (moderator) with Lianna, Trinity, and Grant – recording
• Nursery Grades & Standards and RPG – Mike Marshall, Marshall Tree Farm – recording, slides
• Tree Nursery Workforce Development – Kelly Lewis, Ruppert Nurseries – recording
• NYC Parks Tree Procurement Contracts – James Kaechele, NYC Parks – recording
• Q&A with Speakers – Chris Riley (moderator) with Mike, Kelly, and James – recording
• Closing Remarks – Kesha Braunskill, USFS – recording

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!