News published 13 August 2025

Volunteers needed to collect Oregon ash seeds – US West Coast Conservationists Launch Seed Drive to Save Oregon Ash from Invasive Pest

An urgent volunteer effort is underway to collect seeds from Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia) across its range in Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, as scientists race to protect the species from the destructive emerald ash borer (EAB).

The non-native beetle, which kills nearly all ash trees it infests, threatens to wipe out Oregon ash in much of its range. Researchers from the USDA Forest Service and Oregon State University hope that by gathering seeds, they can both preserve genetic diversity and identify rare trees with natural resistance to EAB. Seeds will be sent to the Forest Service’s Dorena Genetics Resource Center in Cottage Grove, Oregon, for storage and resistance testing. This initiative builds on a previous statewide collection that secured nearly a million seeds before EAB reached the Pacific Northwest, aiming now for even greater coverage.

Volunteers can learn how to properly collect and ship seeds by joining a virtual training workshop on Thursday, August 14, from 12–1 p.m.

Looking for seed storage capacity in the US

USDA Forest Service are having an overwhelming response to registrants for the seed collection workshop and are expecting several thousand new seed collections. They are seeking additional freezer space to store potential overflow. If your institution has available capacity, please contact Richard Sniezko.

Funding opportunity available

Funding opportunity available to support the collection and propagation of priority US tree species, deadline for applications August 22