The goal is to better understand the dynamics of tree populations affected by invasive pests and to develop methods to identify, propagate and breed trees with improved genetic resistance to such pests

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service Region 9–Eastern Region awarded Holden Arboretum, a nonprofit based in Kirtland, Ohio, $272,500 on April 29, 2026, under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) to produce pest-resistant trees and improved seed sources for forest restoration across the Great Lakes Basin.

The award funds continued production of superior pest-resistant trees and seed sources targeting four tree species critical to northern temperate forests in the Great Lakes region: ash (threatened by emerald ash borer), American beech (threatened by beech bark disease and beech leaf disease), eastern hemlock (threatened by hemlock wooly adelgid and elongated hemlock scale), and American elm (threatened by Dutch elm disease). The produced trees and seeds will support forest restoration plantings by public and private landowners throughout the Great Lakes Basin.

Performance runs through May 31, 2028, with all work conducted in Ohio.

A focused effort on four trees species of critical importance to northern temperate forests of the great lakes region: 1 ASH species which are threatened by the invasive emerald ASH borer 2 american beech trees which are threatened by beech bark disease caused by the beech scale insect as well as beech leaf disease the nematode associated with this disease; 3 eastern hemlock which are threatened by the invasive insect hemlock wooly adelgid and elongated hemlock scale 4 american ELM which is threatened by dutch ELM disease. The funds will continue the production of superior pest-resistant trees and seed sources for use in forest restoration plantings by both public and private landowners across the great lakes basin.