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Branching out to residential lands: Missions and strategies of tree distribution programs

This article explores the missions, strategies, and challenges of residential tree distribution programs, focusing on their goals, program models, sponsors, tree distribution strategies, and the importance of community partnerships. The article also discusses the need to clarify goals and metrics of success and offers best practices for connecting with communities and maintaining institutional strategies.

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Branching out to residential lands: Missions and strategies of tree distribution programs

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  1. Branching out to residential lands: Missions and strategies of tree distribution programs Image: www.treebaltimore.org Urban Ecology Collaborative Meeting ∙ September 29, 2016 Vi Nguyen, UC Berkeley Lara Roman, US Forest Service Dexter Locke, Clark University

  2. Why residential trees? That’s where the space is!

  3. Why residential trees? That’s where the space is!

  4. Residential tree programs • Big departure from street and yard programs • Rely on residents to plant and maintain • Examples: • Sacramento Shade (Sacramento Tree Foundation) • Energy-Saving Trees (Arbor Day Foundation)

  5. Study goals • Analyze the missions, strategies, and challenges of residential tree distribution programs • Criteria for selecting programs: • UEC member • Residents plant trees (not contractor plantings, rebates, coupons) • Focus on residential lands

  6. Program missions • TreeBaltimore • “To increase awareness and outreach of TreeBaltimore and its efforts to increase the tree canopy.  Specifically we are trying to target planting on private property, because it is the largest availability plantable space in Baltimore City.” (40% UTC goal)

  7. Program missions • TreeBaltimore • “To increase awareness and outreach of TreeBaltimore and its efforts to increase the tree canopy.  Specifically we are trying to target planting on private property, because it is the largest availability plantable space in Baltimore City.” (40% UTC goal) • TreePhilly • “To provide free trees and education to Philadelphians so they can plant trees on their private property.  This program is one of several TreePhilly programs that are aimed at meeting Mayor Michael Nutter's‘Greenworks Philadelphia’ goal to increase tree canopy to 30% in every neighborhood in Philadelphia by 2025”

  8. How do staff define success? • # trees distributed • Giving away all trees purchased • Good record-keeping • Growing residents’ awareness of and appreciation for urban trees • Tree survival? • Tension in goals “the benefit of getting people excited about trees in general outweighs the lack of environmental benefit that some of these smaller trees offer”

  9. Sponsors • Corporate sponsorship • Utility companies • Foundations • Local/state/federal government • Private giving • Trees2020: resident fees and local government • WTI: state funding for ALB reforestation

  10. Program models • Giveaway event with free trees • Community partners play crucial role • Staffing at giveaway events • Outreach to underserved neighborhoods • Delivery for special circumstances • Pre-registration (TreePhilly, NYRP, WTI) • Trees2020: Trees sold at-cost, program director did site inspections and helped plant

  11. Why free trees? • Logistical challenges of handling fees • Flashier for sponsors and publicity • Important for low-income residents • BUT… risk that residents won’t take free trees seriously

  12. Where are trees distributed?

  13. Tree stock and species • Container trees • WTI largest (replace ALB lost canopy) • NYRP smallest (subway transportation) • TreeBaltimore: only natives • All programs originally emphasized large shade trees but found that residents wanted small fruiting or flowering trees • Benefits of small trees • Some homes have little yard space • Connect with residents

  14. Conclusions • Program sustainability • Financial stability: sponsorships, public-private partnerships, diversity of support • Community partners: local connections and logistics help • Free trees!

  15. Conclusions • Shifting goals and meanings of success • From ↑ UTC to ↑ love of trees • “raising awareness, not necessarily of their benefits, but of trees [being] a nice amenity” • “getting good trees to good homes”

  16. Conclusions • Need to clarify goals and metrics of success • Biophysical goals? (survival, UTC increase) • Community outreach goals? (shifting social norms) • Time scale for success metrics?

  17. Respondents seemed to suggest that the way to increase UTC is through people’s hearts

  18. Acknowledgements • US Forest Service fellowships (Vi & Dexter) • Philadelphia Field Station: Sarah Low, Lili McKinley • Indiana University: Sarah Mincey • Casey Trees: Jess Sanders • TreePhilly: Erica Smith Fichman, Joan Blaustein • NYRP: Erica Tobing, Mike Duran-Mitchell • TreeBaltimore: Charlie Murphy

  19. Best Practices (V1) Connecting with communities • Offer pre-registration • Educate residents about proper tree care and tree planting • Offer consumer friendly practices • Use effective outreach to connect to constituents • Follow-up with recipients Tree stock considerations • Keeping tree stock relatively small • Limit the number of trees per recipient Institutional strategies • Clearly articulate program goals and set metrics of success • Maintain close ties with partners • Diversify and attract funding • Carefully consider free vs. fee-based programs • Maintain good records • Share strategies with other programs

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