BUFFALO, N.Y. – A CommuniTree Steward (CTS) course to train Buffalo area residents to care for juvenile trees is planned by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County (CCE Erie) and area partners. The CTS training will offer a four-part classroom and in-field training taught by experts in the field of arboriculture. For our 2026 sessions, Forest Lawn will host the classes at their Visitor Center (1990 Main Street; Buffalo, NY 14208).
“CCE of Erie County is pleased to be working in coordination with The Buffalo Green Fund and other project partners including the City of Buffalo, Re-Tree, and area arborists to continue the effort first launched in Buffalo ten years ago,” said CCE Erie Executive Director, Diane Held. “Our goal is to train 20 volunteers this spring and continue to engage trained volunteers in community juvenile tree care projects, maintain connections with trained volunteers and build on these volunteer efforts into the future.”
“This course started in 2016 in Western New York as the logical next step to nurture the trees that have been planted since the devastating October 12, 2006, surprise snowstorm,” stated Paul Maurer, with Re-Tree Buffalo “The project partners are collaborating to create a well-trained volunteer corps of tree caretakers. Together we’ve trained over 180 tree stewards.”
The 2026 CTS Classes will be offered on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, March 18th, Mar 25th, April 8th, and April 15th. Registration is now open. Register at: erie.cce.cornell.edu/events. Please be sure to submit the additional information requested in the registration process. There will be an optional fifth session on care of fruit trees in partnership with Buffalo Freedom Gardens.
“Forest Lawn appreciates the opportunity to partner with CCE Erie, the Buffalo Green Fund and others to support our area tree canopy which in turn helps to sustain our environment and provide healthy neighborhoods,” said Andy Howard, Arborist with Forest Lawn Cemetery.
In the almost twenty years since the 2006 October surprise snowstorm destroyed thousands of street and park trees, partners including Re-Tree and its volunteers; the Buffalo Green Fund; the City of Buffalo; and the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy have worked to re-establish our area’s tree canopy.
Cindy Kincaide, past chair of The Buffalo Green Fund stated, “We are pleased to have this growing group of well-trained tree stewards who are able to assist in caring for the thousands of juvenile trees that our community has planted since the spring of 2007!”
Session planners appreciate the support of local tree care professionals in helping to teach the classes including Tom Draves from Draves Arboretum and James Hornung, of Elbers Landscape Service.
In return for the training, the stewards are asked to volunteer at least 10 hours annually caring for area juvenile street and park trees. The partnership with the Buffalo Green Fund along with assistance through the Erie County Urban Forestry grant helps CCE Erie staff to organize volunteer activities for trained CommuniTree Stewards.
If you have questions about the CTS Program or training opportunity, contact Sharon Bachman at 716-652-5400×150 or [email protected].
Accommodations for persons with special needs may be requested by contacting Sharon Bachman at (716) 652-5400 ext 150 or [email protected] at least 5 days before the event.
For more information about the CommuniTREE Steward (CTS) Project, a program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County, visit erie.cce.cornell.edu/agriculture/communitree-stewards.
Funding for this project is provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program in partnership with Erie County, NY.
About Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County (CCE Erie) uses local experience and research-supported solutions to build stronger communities. CCE Erie provides educational programs to county residents in Agriculture and Food Systems; 4-H Youth Development; Nutrition and Community Health; Environmental Systems; and Consumer and Economic Vitality.
— Cornell Cooperative Extension Erie County