Planting Hope: Restoring the American Elm

This weekend, I had the pleasure of joining my son and the 27th Guelph Scouts at a Trees for Guelph community planting event at the Grange Road Natural Area. Volunteering as a family at these events has become a meaningful tradition for us that allows us to connect with our local natural environment alongside our community.

But this planting felt especially significant.

Among the native shrubs and trees, we had the rare opportunity to plant young American Elms (Ulmus americana). American Elms were once common across Eastern North America but were nearly lost to Dutch Elm Disease in the 20th century. The elms we were planting are part of a remarkable conservation effort that sprung forth from research completed at the University of Guelph. In 2012 scientists from our local University published a paper that demonstrated the ability to clone American Elm trees that had survived the Dutch Elm Disease. This methodology has since been implemented by the University of Guelph’s Gosling Research Institute for Plant Preservation (GRIPP). The Elms we were planting that day were cloned from surviving trees by the GRIPP. Their work represents a remarkable effort to bring back the genetic legacy of this iconic species.

Seeing my son carefully plant one of these elms—a living link to Canada’s botanical heritage, was both humbling and hopeful. These trees, genetically identical to disease-resistant survivors, have a chance to once again shade our parks, line our streets, and enrich our ecosystems for generations to come.

At Aboud & Associates, this kind of work resonates deeply with our values. We are committed to the preservation of native plants and have recently authored the provincial recovery strategy for Pumpkin Ash. Throughout Ontario, our team develops edge management, naturalization, and ecological restoration plans that reflect both science and stewardship. Through our commitment to these values we help clients support biodiversity, manage risk, and reconnect communities with the landscapes they inhabit.