By: Ryan Duey
Photo Courtesy of Canva
Earlier this month, the Kansas Forest Service held its 2025 Callery Pear Buy-Back event in Manhattan. Sponsored by Evergy, this event gave residents a chance to receive a free native tree in exchange for removing an invasive Callery Pear tree.
Throughout the morning, the Kansas Forest Service gave out 125 new trees. Shad Hufnagel with the Kansas Forest Service said while registration was lower than they hoped, it was still a very successful day.
Hufnagel spoke about why removing these trees is important.
“Callery pear trees, including just some of the different cultivars like Bradford, Chanticleer, Redpoint, Cleveland Select, and others, were planted for decades.”
“They were originally developed to be sterile specimens, but the introduction of new varieties allowed for cross-pollination to take place and the production of viable seeds.”
“Because of their just adaptable, tough nature, they have adjusted very well to the Kansas landscape and disrupted those native ecosystems.”
A wide variety of native trees, including persimmon, oak, dogwood, and service berry, were distributed during the buy-back event.
Hufnagel said the event, in part, was meant to increase awareness of this invasive species.
“This event was intended to not only incentivize the removal of existing ornamental pear trees, but also to help increase awareness that there is this problematic invasive species that is present in Kansas, and we’re making efforts to help reduce its impact.”
Future buy-back events are planned for the Spring of 2026. Sign up for the Kansas Forest Service’s Kansas Canopy Newsletter to stay informed on future events.