Treesilience: Multiple Locations
Program Title: Treesilience
Year Adopted: 2020
Cities: Chicago IL, St. Louis MO, Orlando FL, Kansas City MO, Louisiana
Main Citation: “Treesilience.” TREESILIENCE, www.treesilience.org/.
Description:
Treesilience is a national initiative led by The Nature Conservancy, focusing on enhancing urban forest resilience by addressing barriers to healthy tree canopies. The program uses the strategies of working to replace trees at the end of their life cycle, maintenance of mature trees, and site preparation to improve conditions for new plantings. Priority is given to areas where the canopy is threatened or diminished, particularly in communities that would benefit most from a thriving urban forest.
A key component of this program is tree maintenance, which involves pruning existing mature trees to enhance their resilience and longevity. This practice is primarily conducted on private properties in communities that stand to gain significantly from healthier trees.
The initiative also addresses the replacement of trees that have reached the end of their lifecycle. Participants commit to caring for newly planted trees that replace those removed, with efforts made to repurpose the wood from removals within the local community whenever possible.
Workforce development is another critical aspect of Treesilience. Nonprofit partners lead career exploration and workforce development programs to improve access to opportunities within the green industry, fostering a strong tree care workforce in each community.
The initiative operates under several core principles, including:
1. Identifying community needs in partnership with local leaders.
2. Assessing canopy needs using available science and data.
3. Equitably distributing tree management resources to help communities proactively restore or improve their canopy.
4. Engaging young emerging professionals to provide exposure to careers in forestry.
5. Supporting community leaders in advocating for green infrastructure and empowering them to lead on tree stewardship.
6. Celebrating and sharing stories of community resilience through tree canopy restoration.
Treesilience is administered nationally by The Nature Conservancy with support from the USDA Forest Service, in collaboration with the Davey Tree Expert Company.
Impact:
The Treesilience initiative effectively uses financial support to ensure the protection and maintenance of mature trees. Through funding from partners like the USDA Forest Service and Davey Tree Expert Company, the program invests in pruning and maintaining trees on private properties, particularly in communities where tree canopies are under threat. Financial resources also support the replacement of aging trees, with commitments from participants to care for new plantings and repurpose materials from removed trees locally. Additionally, funding helps to develop the green workforce through career exploration programs, providing long-term benefits by creating a sustainable tree care workforce. This model of leveraging financial support for both tree preservation and community development provides a strong best practice for urban tree stewardship.
Additional Resources: