Vermont’s forests are central to our state’s rural identity and economy, supporting significant employment and income across the state. But our forest economy is being disrupted by the effects of severe and unpredictable weather patterns. Life-threatening flooding, tree mortality from invasive species and other major stressors are endangering the forest ecosystem and the traditions and livelihoods that the ecosystem sustains. Replanting trees with native stock is an essential solution, but the region lacks nursery infrastructure and workforce to respond.

This partnership project will develop a science-based roadmap to increase forest nursery capacity and build a network of reforestation hubs to strengthen Vermont’s forests and rural communities. The plan is to engage UVM faculty, students and Extension specialists along with a host of community partners to develop a statewide plan for reforestation nursery hubs, use research to inform nursery and reforestation best practices, and create a workforce development plan to grow this sector.  

Rural nurseries will be strengthened as ecological and economic hubs with state-of-the-art guidance. Students will be trained for careers in this field. Many rural regions in our state will benefit from these hubs and from the resilient forests that result. 

UVM faculty are joining with conservation, nursery and forestry organizations at the local, state and federal levels to address this important need. The partners are focused on nursery best-practices and capacity building while also growing a skilled green workforce in rural Vermont.