SAP-Ne Field Tour: Preserving the Future of Ash in New York City’s Urban Forests

SAP-Ne Field Tour: Preserving the Future of Ash in New York City’s Urban Forests Field Tour: Preserving the Future of Ash in New York City’s Urban Forests 

Date: Thursday, October 22nd, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. ET 

Location: The New York Botanical Garden and New York City Parks, Bronx, NY 10458 (Details about meeting location are contained within the agenda and will be shared via email to registrants) 

Hosted by: Sustaining Ash Partners Network (SAP-Ne), New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), and New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) 

Agenda 

Flyer 

This in-person event is limited to 20 attendees, so register quickly to secure your spot! 

Join us for a SAP-Ne field tour with the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) and NYC Parks, focusing on the future of ash trees in the Big Apple! 

Ash trees play an important ecological role in New York City’s green spaces, from street trees and gardens to urban floodplains and forests. Come explore how NYBG and NYC Parks are actively working to safeguard ash trees against the forest pest, emerald ash borer.  

We’ll first learn about the work by staff at NYBG to retain ash throughout the arboretum, gardens, and natural areas. We will have a walking tour of the grounds and forest, along with a visit to a small nursery where staff are propagating pumpkin ash to plant in a floodplain restoration site. Then, we’ll head to Van Cortlandt Park to hear from NYC Parks staff about their efforts to conserve an important stand of critically endangered pumpkin ash.  

Be prepared to walk across terrain that may be steep and uneven. 

SAP-Ne proudly supports ash conservation efforts at NYBG through our growing demonstration site network that showcases effective, hands-on techniques for conserving future generations of ash across the Northeastern landscape.  

Presenters include:  

• John Zeiger, Manager of the Thain Family Forest, New York Botanical Garden 
• Melissa Finley, Thain Senior Curator of Woody Plants and Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden Curator, New York Botanical Garden 
• Kathryn Mercier, Deputy Director of Queens Forestry, NYC Parks 
• John-Paul Catusco, Landscape & Natural Areas Manager of Van Cortland Park, NYC Parks

Hosted by the Sustaining Ash Partners Network(SAP-Ne), the New York Botanical Garden(NYBG), and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation(NYC Parks), this half-day program offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at ash conservation in action. 

This event is designed for anyone interested in trees, conservation, or the urban environment—no scientific background required. 

This event is approved for 2.5 SAF Category 1 Continuing Education Credits. 

 

If you have any questions or accessibility needs, please contact Rachel Swanwick at rswanwick@forestguild.org.