UTIA Tree Improvement Program and Two State Agencies Work Together to Protect and Conserve the State’s Forest Resources
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A new, five-year agreement establishes how the State of Tennessee and a program in the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will study and produce tree seedlings to promote the protection and conservation of Tennessee forests.
The UTIA Tree Improvement Program (UT-TIP), the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) partnered on the agreement.
“Honoring our land-grant mission, we are excited about this partnership to responsibly research, develop, manage and conserve forest resources across the great state of Tennessee,” said Keith Carver, UTIA senior vice chancellor and senior vice president.
UT-TIP manages numerous seed orchards in East, Middle and West Tennessee with help from state and federal partners. It uses the orchards to provide the East Tennessee Nursery with locally adapted and genetically improved seed. “This program provides uniquely valuable research data that is driving the development of seedlings that are calibrated to our climate. This enables them to grow faster and stronger, helping us grow more resilient forests,” Tennessee State Forester Heather Slayton said. “Tree improvement programs are a long game, so we are excited to formalize this long-term agreement to ensure the continuation of this program for generations to come.”
“Our longtime partnership with UT Tree Improvement Program will benefit wildlife conservation and natural resources across the state for generations,” TWRA Executive Director Jason Maxedon said. “Collecting high-quality seeds and knowing the genetics from trees on Wildlife Management Areas ensures the state has a bank of locally adapted seeds that can be put back on the landscape to make meaningful advances in forestry work.”
UT-TIP and TDF first developed a partnership in 1966 and continued updating it every five years until 2018. The program also signed a five-year agreement with TWRA in 2013. Scott Schlarbaum, UT-TIP director and UTIA School of Natural Resources professor, added, “The new MOU provides a framework for TDF, TWRA and UT-TIP to work together toward increasing productivity in Tennessee forests while protecting forest function and structure. All seed from the orchards covered under this agreement will be transferred to the State Nursery to meet Tennessee landowners’ needs.”
The seed collection will help improve Tennessee forests while advancing property owners’ land management goals. Don Hodges, School of Natural Resources director, said, “This is a unique partnership, bringing together the state forestry and wildlife agencies with the oldest university-based hardwood tree improvement program in the country. This will ensure that Tennessee’s citizens have access to nursery stock to achieve a wide range of management objectives, from timber production to improved wildlife habitat and other ecosystem services.”
The UT School of Natural Resources focuses on a mastery learning approach, emphasizing practical, hands-on experiences. The school’s faculty, staff and students advance the science and sustainable management of our natural resources through various programs of the UT Institute of Agriculture (UTIA).
UTIA is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.