Kansas Forest Service Offers Tree Buyback to Combat Invasive Species

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Kansas Forest Service will host a Callery pear tree buyback event Oct. 4 in Manhattan as part of efforts to combat an invasive species that threatens native plant communities across the state.

The event, scheduled for 2610 Claflin Road, will provide replacement trees to residents who have removed Callery pear trees from their property in 2025. Participants must register in advance and provide documentation such as before-and-after photos or an arborist's bill confirming tree removal.

Callery pear trees, which rapidly spread and outcompete native plants, have been identified as a significant ecological threat in Kansas. The Kansas Department of Agriculture established a quarantine in February 2024, and the sale or transportation of Callery pear trees will be prohibited statewide starting Jan. 1, 2027.

"Due to limited supply, it is on a first-come, first-served basis, and participants are limited to one replacement tree per household," according to the Kansas Forest Service announcement.

Available replacement species include serviceberry, dogwood, persimmon, Kentucky coffeetree and swamp white oak. Registration information will be shared through the Kansas Forest Service newsletter when available.

The buyback program addresses concerns about the invasive nature of Callery pear trees, which were once popular ornamental trees but have since escaped cultivation and spread throughout Kansas ecosystems. The trees crowd out native species that provide food and habitat for wildlife.

Additional buyback opportunities are planned for spring 2026, according to forest service officials.

The program is sponsored by Evergy and represents part of a broader state effort to control invasive plant species that threaten Kansas's natural environments.

Residents interested in participating should monitor the Kansas Forest Service website and newsletter for registration details as the event date approaches.