Got acorns? Tennessee wants them for a new initiative

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennesseans are asked to collect acorns this fall as part of a project to help restore white oak trees across the Volunteer State.

The Tennessee White Oak Initiative is a cooperative effort between the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF), TDF’s East Tennessee Nursery, the University of Tennessee Extension and the Tennessee Forestry Association, according to a release.

Every year, the TDF’s East Tennessee Nursery in Polk County grows a large crop of white oak seedlings, which are used for white oak restoration efforts statewide. But over the last few years, seed suppliers have been unable to meet the nursery’s seed volume needs.

The white oak acorn collection program is designed to supplement the nursery’s seed supply to boost seedling production. This type of wild seed collection also tends to yield higher quality, larger and stronger seedlings, according to a release.

The acorns will be planted and evaluated at the East Tennessee Nursery in Delano, Tennessee.

“White oaks are a critical element of Tennessee’s forests,” State Forester Heather Slayton said in a release. “The roles they play in our ecosystems and economy are invaluable, which is why it is so distressing to see the dropping rates of white oak regrowth in our forests. This initiative is one part of a large-scale effort to address this challenge.”

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Individuals, civic organizations, forestry groups, landowners and anyone who would like to participate should visit www.tnforestry.com/white-oak-acorn-collection to begin the process. This year’s collection program will open on Oct. 15 through Nov. 15, 2024.

Interested parties can reach out to their local forester for assistance in identifying the correct tree species and information on how to collect, store and deliver acorns.

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