Tree Gene Conservation Partnership

American Public Gardens Association is partnering with the United States Forest Service’s Forest Health Protection to establish living gene banks of US at-risk tree species, by collecting seed from across its native range to capture broad genetic diversity then distributing propagules to public gardens for safeguarding in ex situ collections. Efforts focus on taxa native to US forests which cannot be conserved through traditional seedbanking methods. The current partnership began in 2015, and annually awards matching funds on a competitive basis to Association members to support scouting and collecting trips, propagation, and distribution of propagules.

While no grants are available in 2026 due to a lapse in funding, we have renewed our Memorandum of Understanding to coordinate activities in support of ecosystem, plant, and gene conservation. APGA organizations are encouraged to include this MOU when applying for permits to conduct fieldwork on Forest Service lands which can streamline the permitting process. Download APGA-USFS MOU here.

Browse partnership-supported collaborative projects targeting at-risk tree species.