Strengthening America’s Reforestation Pipeline
Mapping funding flows, convening stakeholders, and building a more resilient national nursery system in partnership with the US Forest Service.
USFS
$10M
Federal
$32M
Funding Flows to State Nurseries in the US
State
$33M
Private
$19M
The Challenge
Tree nurseries are the backbone of America’s reforestation value chain, yet they face fragmented funding, outdated infrastructure, and uneven access to capital. Small-acreage landowners in particular often struggle to access reliable, affordable seedlings to make their projects possible. At the same time, public, private, and philanthropic players are becoming increasingly aware of this gap and experimenting with ways to close it.
Project Mission
This partnership with the US Forest Service aims to coordinate funding efforts, reduce duplication, strengthen supply chains, and unlock capital for nurseries nationwide through strategic mapping, convening, and policy innovation.
Our Approach
Funding Flow Mapping
Track dollar flows from federal, state, philanthropic, corporate, and private sources to understand where capital is going and identify gaps
Stakeholder Convening
Create collaborative forums and networks for funders to align efforts and reduce fragmentation
Market Intelligence
Conduct baseline assessments of nursery capacity, demand, and infrastructure needs
Policy Solutions
Identify barriers and develop actionable policy levers to strengthen support systems
Guiding Principles
Integration & Alignment: Map priorities, funding flows, and policies across sectors to reduce fragmentation
Market Intelligence: Establish baseline understanding of nursery capacity, demand, and gaps
Collaboration: Create forums and networks for funders and stakeholders to align efforts
Policy Innovation: Identify barriers and develop actionable policy levers
Resource Navigation: Build tools that make funding and technical assistance easier to access
Research Scope
This research examines investment into seed and seedling nurseries across the United States, with emphasis on reforestation inputs. We map dollar flows from multiple sources, assess annual funding volumes, and include case studies to ground truth our analysis.
Ultimate Goal
Provide the USFS and partners with a clear picture of today's funding landscape and recommend actionable pathways to strengthen nursery infrastructure and secure the future of reforestation capacity.