SavATree was founded by Ralph Robbins in 1978 with a single objective in mind; to save trees from the devastating effects of repeated defoliations by the Gypsy Moth Caterpillar (Lymantria dispar). While this moth was accidentally introduced into the United States by French entomologist Leopold Trouvelot in 1868, it was not until the late 1970's that the population exploded in the Northeast. Ralph, a graduate of Paul Smith's college and entrepreneur at heart, saw an opportunity to make a difference in support of tree preservation and care.