KANSAS FOREST SERVICE
The Kansas Forest Service (KFS) has released new details for its invasive tree buyback program, offering Kansans another opportunity to replace callery pear trees with more sustainable options.
In its Sept. 10 newsletter, KFS announced that registration is now open for the 2025 Callery Pear Buyback Event, sponsored by Evergy. The event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 2610 Claflin Road in Manhattan, where staff will distribute 125 replacement trees.
To participate, residents must provide either before-and-after photos of a removed callery pear tree or documentation from an arborist confirming its removal. Each household is limited to one replacement tree.
Callery pear trees, once popular in landscaping, are now classified as invasive in Kansas due to their rapid spread and ability to outcompete native plants. They are also prone to breaking during storms, which increases the risk of property damage.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) reinforced the state’s stance earlier this year by establishing a quarantine on Callery pear trees and related species in Feb. 2024. Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, the sale or transportation of Callery pear trees will be prohibited statewide.
The buyback program is part of ongoing efforts to protect native ecosystems and encourage healthier, more resilient tree planting across Kansas.
Residents interested in participating can sign up for the program online at this link.