Priority U.S. Trees Conservation Awards

Through targeted funding that empowers arboreta, ArbNet and its partners help advance the protection of at-risk U.S. tree species.

ArbNet, Botanic Gardens Conservation International-US, The Morton Arboretum, NatureServe, and the United States Botanic Garden are pleased to offer funding support for U.S.-based institutions to collect and propagate priority U.S. tree species through the Priority U.S. Trees Conservation Awards.

Priority taxa were selected from the U.S. Trees Checklist paper and prioritized based on how underrepresented they are in ex situ collections – specifically, those found in five collections or less, using data from PlantSearch and ex situ surveys. We invite collaborators to complete a proposal through the form linked below to be considered for funding to support conservation of these priority taxa in their collections.

Award Details

The awards range from USD $3,000 up to $10,000 for three taxa. Proposals for the current round of applications will be accepted through April 15, 2026. Recipients will be notified within four to six weeks of the application due date.

Eligibility

U.S.-based institutions (non-profit organizations; local, regional, or state governments; educational institutions, etc.) only; individuals are not eligible
Project focuses on priority U.S. tree taxa
Collection permit application must be submitted prior to award application submission
Project complies with CPC Best Plant Conservation Practices to Support Species Survival in the Wild
Data from the wild populations will be shared with state botanists
Collections will be accessioned and uploaded to BGCI PlantSearch
Project period of performance is 18 months from the time of award notification

Application

The Priority U.S. Trees Conservation Awards application require the following information:

Contact information
Project partners
Target taxa
Collection/propagation description
Justification
Budget
Project title

Apply HERE.

Reporting

Awardees are required to submit a final report one month after completion of the project, detailing project activities, challenges, next steps and budget. Photos and videos (where applicable) should be made available for sharing on partner websites and social media.

Please contact Raakel Toppila (raakel.toppila@bgci.org) with any questions.

2025 Award Recipients

Ten institutions from eight states across the United States were selected in 2025 to receive Priority U.S. Trees Conservation Awards ranging from USD $3,000–$5,000 to support the collection, propagation, and safeguarding of 18 priority tree taxa in ex situ conservation collections.