WNY CommuniTREE Steward (CTS) Project

Welcome to the WNY CommunitTREE Steward Project webpage!

Thanks for visiting! Due to the pandemic we were not able to host a full training series in 2020. With the state of emergency lifted we are in process of re-activating our efforts.

If you are interested in receiving information about our upcoming Tree Stewardship trainings, contact Jolie Hibit at jah663@cornell.edu.

About the WNY CommuniTREE Steward Project

In March 2016, CCE Erie, along with a number of partners, launched a five-part classroom and in-field training series to teach Buffalo area residents to care for juvenile trees. Instructors for the classes included professionals in the fields of arboriculture and biology. Funding has been provided to the project by the Buffalo Green Fund. Representatives from the City of Buffalo Department of Parks and Recreation, Re-Tree, Wendel Companies and Buffalo Olmsted Conservancy helped to organize the training. Following the training, participants will volunteer their time to assist in urban street tree planting and maintenance projects.

"This course is the first of its kind in Western New York and is the logical next step to nurture the trees that have been planted since the devastating October 12, 2006 surprise snowstorm," stated Paul Mauer, with Re-Tree Buffalo. "The project partners are collaborating to create a well-trained volunteer corps of tree caretakers. Thousands of street and park trees were destroyed by the snowstorm and have been replaced by Re-Tree's volunteers, the City of Buffalo and the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy.

2024 CTS Volunteer Opportunities

Date Time	Event	RSVP to	Location
4 Wednesday nights 3/19 4/9 5:30 7:30 pm	CommuniTree Steward Training	https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/2025WNYCTSClasses_214	Forest Lawn Visitor Center

CTS Volunteer In-person Training Schedule

Our CTS trainings include five sessions each about 2.25 hours long. Class topic order may vary.

	Class Topics
Week 1	Introduction to CTS, Tree Biology
Week 2	Tree ID
Week 3	Tree Maintenance and Pest Problems
Week 4	Pruning, Safety and Regulations
Week 5	Tree Establishment and Planting Activity

Thanks to the Buffalo Green Fund for supporting our efforts. If you would like to contribute to the Buffalo Green Fund which supports programs and projects that help beautify and enhance the parks, neighborhoods and public spaces throughout the urban landscape, visit their website at buffalogreenfund.org.