West Plains, MO. – On April 23, 2024, the Missouri Invasive Plant Council (MoIP) with the Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, Forest Keeling Nursery, and the Missouri Department of Conservation are hosting a Callery Pear “buyback” event.
For this event, any person who cuts down or digs up a Callery Pear Tree, also known as Bradford Pears, and takes a picture will receive a native tree of their choosing. To register for this event/program you can visit, https://moinvasives.org/2024/01/12/callery-pear-buyback-2024/. Here you choose your location, and the native tree you desire, and upload the picture of your cutdown Callery Pear tree. Registration will be open from March 15 to April 15. The native tree you picked will be available for pick up, at the location that was selected, on April 23 from 3 to 6 p.m. The trees are provided by Forest reLeaf and the Forest Keeling Nursery and will be between 2 to 4 feet tall in 3-gallon containers.
The reason for this event is to reduce the population of the invasive non-native tree. The Callery pear is a tree covered in tiny thorns, that not only produces inedible fruit but also produces a powerful unpleasant odor. The MoIP and the Missouri Department of Conservation are trying to get rid of the invasive species and bring back Missouri’s native trees. Below are all the pickup locations and contacts for people who can answer your questions:
- St. Louis, MO: Billy Haag, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, billy@moreleaf.org, (314) 533-5323
- Columbia, MO: Emily Render, info@moinvasives.org, (573) 569-8659
- Cape Girardeau, MO: Josh Hartwig, Josh.Hartwig@mdc.mo.gov, (573) 290-5730 ex. 4419
- Farmington, MO: Josh Hartwig, Josh.Hartwig@mdc.mo.gov, (573) 290-5730 ex. 4419
- Kennett, MO: Josh Hartwig, Josh.Hartwig@mdc.mo.gov, (573) 290-5730 ex. 4419
- Springfield, MO: Jon Skinner, jon.skinner@mdc.mo.gov, (417) 629-3434 ex. 4543
- Joplin, MO: Jon Skinner, jon.skinner@mdc.mo.gov, (417) 629-3434 ex. 4543
- Lebanon, MO: Jon Skinner, jon.skinner@mdc.mo.gov, (417) 629-3434 ex. 4543
- Hannibal, MO: Kristy Trevathan, kristy.trevathan@prestigerealty.net, 573-248-6581
- Rolla, MO: Pam Barnabee, pamela.barnabee@gmail.com
- West Plains, MO: Valarie Kurre, vkurre@quailforever.org, (417) 708-6497
- Kirksville, MO: Yvette Amerman, Yvette.Amerman@mdc.mo.gov
- St. Joseph, MO: Bill Graham, bill.graham@mdc.mo.gov, (816) 759-7305, ext. 1131
- Kansas City Area: Deep Roots, Chris Cardwell, chris@deeprootskc.org
For more information on the event visit, https://moinvasives.org/2024/01/12/callery-pear-buyback-2024/, and more information on Callery Pear Trees go to https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/callery-pear-bradford-pear.
