PRESS RELEASE: Tree Harvest 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Burlington, VT — The Intervale Conservation Nursery (ICN) is currently implementing planting projects across Vermont following the successful growth and harvest of 20,000 native trees and shrubs. These trees are now being planted along waterways throughout the state, helping improve water quality, strengthen flood resilience, and create important habitat for wildlife and pollinators.

At the Intervale Center, we steward the natural environment as the foundation of a healthy and resilient food system. Planting trees along rivers and streams helps reduce erosion, improve water quality, mitigate flood impacts, and support healthy ecosystems. These benefits protect agricultural lands, strengthen climate resilience, and help ensure Vermont farms can continue producing food for generations to come. Since 2001, the Intervale Conservation Nursery has planted more than 600,000 trees across Vermont—restoring over 2,000 acres of forested land.

This year, the Nursery is leading planting projects at more than 18 conservation sites spanning 50 acres throughout the state. We partner with organizations including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Friends of the Winooski River, Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District, and private landowners to identify project sites that will provide the greatest ecological and community benefits. We are grateful for the support of the Lake Champlain Basin Program and other generous funders who make this work possible.

As planting projects continue throughout the season, every tree planted is an investment in Vermont’s waterways, wildlife, farms, and communities. Through collaborative conservation efforts, we are building healthier landscapes, more resilient local food systems, and a stronger future for Vermont.

Businesses, municipalities, and landowners interested in future native tree and shrub planting projects can contact Ben Rodgers (benr@intervale.org), Intervale Conservation Nursery Sales and Operations Manager, to learn more about available plant material and conservation partnerships. To buy trees, shrubs, and bio-engineering material, visit https://intervaleconservationnursery.myshopify.com/

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance (BIL 4N0A001022-4) to NEIWPCC in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program. NEIWPCC manages LCBP’s personnel, contract, grant, and budget tasks and provides input on the program’s activities through a partnership with the LCBP. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of NEIWPCC, the LCBP, or the EPA, nor does NEIWPCC, the LCBP, or the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document.

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About The Intervale Center

For more than 35 years, the Intervale Center has supported a farm and food system transformation that sustains farms, land, and people. We work in Vermont to unlock opportunities for our farm and food economy while addressing significant challenges that impact farm viability, water quality, hunger and climate resilience. Our current programming works across Vermont to support farm business development, riparian buffer and other land restoration, food and market access and stewarding our 360-acre model campus in Vermont's most populated region. Learn more about the Intervale Center vision, programming, and impact at www.intervale.org.

For media inquiries please contact Mia Handte-Reinecker: (802) 660-0440 or mia@intervale.org.