Zach Wirtz leads the Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI), The Morton Arboretum’s flagship urban and community forestry program, working to improve the health, diversity, and equitable distribution of trees in the Chicago region and throughout Illinois.

CRTI has collaborated  with more than 500 partners across public, private, and nonprofit sectors to inspire tree stewards and build municipal capacity and support for trees to improve climate resilience.

With a solid background in nonprofit tree planting and urban forestry, Wirtz has honed his expertise through experience in both Texas and Illinois. He holds a bachelor of science degree in urban forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a master of science degree in forestry from The University of British Columbia. He earned Arborist Certification through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification.

At CRTI, Wirtz continues to work toward nurturing green spaces and fostering sustainable urban environments with a collaborative approach.

His research interests include urban forest governance, volunteerism, and mitigating urban heat issues with trees.