General Information
Indiana DNR Community & Urban Forestry and Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) are excited to offer the 2026 Invasive Tree Replacement program!
Property owners who show proof of removal of an approved invasive tree on their property in Indiana within the Little Calumet-Galien watershed are eligible to receive one free native tree at a replacement tree distribution event.
Acceptable species for removal are:
- Callery/Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
- Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
- Burning Bush
- Any woody invasive plant listed by the Indiana Invasive Species Council
A replacement tree distribution event will be held at Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (Portage, IN)
- May 1, 2026 from 4 - 6 pm and
- May 2, 2026 from 10 am - 12 pm
You must submit the following inquiry form (DNR survey/application) by Sunday, March 1, to ensure our best ability to meet your requested species. Forms will be accepted after May 1, but preferred species are less likely to be procured after March 1. NO SPECIES IS GUARANTEED, but we will do our best to provide your requested species or an appropriate substitution. Trees are available while supplies last. Contact jbirchfield@nirpc.org if you need assistance determining an appropriate species for your yard. If awarded a tree, you will receive a follow-up email confirming your time slot for the distribution event.
You may request (BUT ARE NOT GUARANTEED) the following species:
Small flowering:
Medium:
Large:
- Q. What's the process for getting a replacement tree?
A. It’s a three-step process!
- Take down your tree properly. You can find helpful resources below. Make sure to take pictures!
- Fill out the application.
- Attend the replacement tree distribution event, which will be held on May 1 and 2 in Portage.
- Q. How many trees can I get?
A. One tree per address. If all requests are accommodated, you MAY be offered an extra tree
- Q. Even if I remove multiple invasive trees?
A. We appreciate your enthusiasm for the program, but we want to make sure more people have access to free, native trees! If all requests are accommodated, you MAY be offered an extra tree
- Q. Do I have to take the tree down myself? Can I hire someone? Will you reimburse me?
A. No, you don’t have to take the tree down by yourself. You can hire an ISA-certified arborist or a trusted landscaping company to remove the tree for you. (Use this tool to find an arborist near you.) Just make sure to take before and after pictures for your application! Unfortunately, this program only offers replacement trees and cannot cover removal costs.
- Q. What if I recently removed my tree?
A. As long as you have before and after photos, you are eligible to receive a free replacement tree.
- Q. What species are available?
A. We will have a variety of Indiana native species, and quantities will vary! Trees will be first-come, first-serve at the event.
- Q. Am I eligible for this program?
A. Look at this map to see if your property is located in the eligible area. The shaded purple area is the portion of the Little Calumet-Galien watershed that falls within Indiana. The invasive tree must be removed from property within this boundary, and the replacement tree must be planted on the same property.
- Q. I don't live in the watershed. Can I still participate?
A. Unfortunately, no. We hope to offer this program more widely in the near future. You can stay up to date on all things Community & Urban Forestry by signing up for our newsletter.
Have a question that isn't answered here? Email: mgullion@dnr.in.gov
For more information on proper invasive removal, check out the following resources:
Reconnecting to Our Waterways (ROW):
- Callery/Bradford Pear Identification and Management Profile
- Tree of Heaven Identification and Management Profile
Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes Collaborative (WIGL)
