Your Dollars at Work!
The Britton Fund is committed to advancing arboriculture through the awarding of research grants that focus on the unique challenges and opportunities within California, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii.
Thanks to the philanthropic support of WCISA members, industry partners, private and public donors, over $150,000 in grants have been awarded, supporting science-based research and educational opportunities for arborists and tree-care professionals across the western region. The outcomes of these research projects are widely shared through our website, industry publications, seminars, and conferences—empowering professionals with the knowledge needed to care for and protect our urban forests.
NEW! Turf Conversion and Tree Health Study Awarded $29,290 Grant
Dr. Joanna Solins, Environmental Horticulture Advisor at UC Cooperative Extension, along with a team of researchers, has been awarded a $29,290 grant for a two-year project. As turf lawns are increasingly replaced with water-wise landscaping for urban water conservation, the impact on existing trees remains uncertain. This research study aims to evaluate the effects of two turf conversion techniques — removal of existing turf with a sod cutter and sheet mulching—on mature trees and soils. The findings will help develop best management practices for tree protection during lawn replacement. Contributing researchers include Dr. Chris Shogren, Environmental Horticulture Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, and Karey Windbiel-Rojas, Area Urban IPM Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension.
NEW! Cooling Benefits of Climate-Ready Trees Awarded $3,285 Grant
Dr. Joanna Solins, Environmental Horticulture Advisor at UC Cooperative Extension, along with a team of researchers, has been awarded a $3,285 grant for a one-year project. This study aims to evaluate the cooling benefits of tree species identified in The Climate Ready Trees study, which was also supported by The Britton Fund. The research focuses on tree species that are expected to thrive in California’s increasingly hot Central Valley cities without the need for irrigation. The analysis will compare the cooling potential of these species to that of more commonly planted and irrigated urban trees. Additionally, Dr. Solins’ study seeks to better understand the leaf and canopy characteristics associated with greater cooling potential in tree species that can survive under water-limited conditions. Contributing researchers include Drs. Alison Berry, Mickie Tang, Matthew Gilbert with the UC Davis, Department of Plant Sciences, and Dr. Natalie van Doorn with the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station.
Active and Recently Completed Projects.
- Trends in Native Tree Plantings in Urban California: Where are trees native in the urban environment? Dr. Matt Ritter, Dr. Jen Yost, Cami Pawlak, MS $8,000 in 2022. Read the team’s articles: “Native to Where? California’s Native Trees and Their Use in the Urban Environment” published in the Western Arborist magazine, Summer 2023. “California’s Native Trees and Their Use in the Urban Forest” published in the international journal Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, Volume 89, November 2023.
- Building Tree Resiliency through Urban Tree Infrastructure Mitigation Techniques, Dr. Andrew Kaufman, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii – $30,170. Watch Dr. Kaufman’s research presentation from The Britton Fund’s “2020 Research Round Up” live stream event.
- What Tree To Plant? Selecting Trees Fit for the Future, Dr. Alison Berry, University of California at Davis – $25,697
- Management of New Invasive Pests of Ficus Trees in Hawaii’s Urban Landscapes, Zhiquiang Cheng, Assistant Extension Specialist, Dept Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawaii, Manoa, $15,000 over 2 years. Learn more about this topic and watch Zhiquiang Cheng’s research presentation from The Britton Fund’s “2020 Research Round Up” live stream event.
- Tree Care for Birds and Other Wildlife, Amelia Oliver, California ReLeaf; Andy Trotter, West Coast Arborists; Ryan Gilpin, HortScience Inc., $10,000 in 2017. Follow this link for best management practices and more.
- Identification of the Causal Agent of Witches Broom on Blue Palo Verde, Dr. Ursula Schuch and Dr. Judith Brown, $25,000 over 18 months. Watch Dr. Schuch’s research presentation from The Britton Fund’s “2020 Research Round Up” live stream event.
- Connecting Tree Failure with Wood Decay Fungal Assay, Dr. Igor Lacan, $11,000 over 2 years. Watch Dr. Lacan’s presentation from The Britton Fund’s “2020 Research Round Up” live stream event and more.
- What Tree To Plant? Selecting Trees Fit for the Future, Dr. Greg McPherson and Dr. Alison Berry, $27,000, completed. Handouts are available for you to share with others.
- Tree Species Failure Profiles, Dr. Larry Costello, completed. Follow this link to read about this important research and learn more about the Western Tree Failure Database site. Through the database, you can ask a question or report a tree failure.