The Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) in February 2024 announced its Fall 2023 Grant Cycle recipients.
Three grants are being awarded from this past cycle, one each from the John Z. Duling Grant Program, the Jack Kimmel International Grant Program and the Bob Skiera Memorial Fund Building Bridges Initiative Grant Program.
The John Z. Duling Grant, which provides start up or seed funding to support innovative research and technology transfer projects, was awarded to Dr. Thomas Whitney of The Davey Institute for the project, “Efficacy of Aphidoletes aphidimyza predator releases to control aphid populations on linden street trees.”
The Jack Kimmel International Grant, which provides funding for arboriculture research by applicants working primarily outside the USA, in partnership with Canadian TREE Fund, was awarded to Dr. Petr Hedenec of University Malaysia Terengganu for the project, “Light-side of termites: Distance effect of termite nests on tree growth and pathogen resilience of tree species in Taman Botani at UMT.”
The Bob Skiera Memorial Fund Building Bridges Initiative Grant Program supports projects which will help arborists and urban foresters communicate the value of trees and urban forests on a global basis through technology transfer and engagement with developers, builders, civil engineers, city planners, elected officials and other policymakers. It has been awarded to JD Brown of the University of Virginia for the project, “Valuing Retention of Mature Trees.”
TREE Fund is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support scientific discovery and dissemination of new knowledge in the fields of arboriculture and urban forestry. TREE Fund promotes scientific inquiry designed to benefit commercial, residential, utility and consulting arborists, urban foresters, and other professionals in related fields in their shared work to create, support and sustain vibrant urban canopies. TREE Fund offers nine grants and six scholarships each year. More information can be found at www.treefund.org.
