By: Ryan Duey
Photo Courtesy of Canva
The Kansas Forest Service will host a Callery Pear Tree Buyback Program on Saturday, October 4th, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at 2610 Claflin Road in Manhattan. Trees will be limited to one replacement per household on a first-come, first-served basis.
Shad Hufnagel with the Kansas Forest Service said the program is aimed at broadening the buyback event that has been going on for a few years in the Kansas City area.
“We will be giving away approximately 125 three-gallon-sized trees, and most notably, trees that are native species.”
“This year, we’ve got a decent selection of trees, including serviceberry, flowering dogwood, swamp white oak, Kentucky coffee tree, and persimmon.”
“This should allow for a good variety of sizes and ornamental features to be distributed to participants.”
To participate, simply submit photos of a Callery Pear species before it was cut down and after it was harvested on the Forest Service’s website. Patrons can also send an invoice from an arborist that states the species was removed.
Hufnagel spoke of the reasoning behind the species invasion.
“Callery pear trees, including just some of the different cultivars such as the Bradford, Chanticleer, Redpoint, Cleveland Select, and others, were planted in Kansas for decades.”
“They were originally developed to be sterile specimens, but with the introduction of new varieties, that allowed for cross-pollination to take place and the production of viable seeds.”
“Because of their adaptability and tough nature, they have adjusted very well to the Kansas landscape and are disrupting those native ecosystems.”
Visit the Kansas Forest Service’s website for more information on the Callery pear tree. To sign up for the Fall Buyback Event, visit https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_82CDAPOKosIYhka.
Those not able to participate this fall may sign up for the Kansas Forest Service’s Kansas Canopy Newsletter to keep informed on future events.
