City Trees

the property owner. DCR foresters visit proper- ties where residents have expressed interest in a tree(s) to determine the best location and species for energy efficiency. Trees are planted free of charge by DCR crews to ensure proper installation. To receive a tree, the participant must agree to a two-year watering commitment to ensure the tree's survival. They are given tree care informa- tion and guidelines, and the foresters are avail- able to answer future questions about the trees. Once a city's tree planting is completed and the DCR crews are gone, our partnering non-profit organizations continue the mission of envi- ronmental stewardship in the community. Trees are typically planted from April-June in the spring season and from September-November in the fall season. Foresters, however, conduct site visits year-round. To maintain activity for the tree planting crews and to reach program planting tar- gets, the GGCP aims to plant 400 trees per season (800 trees per calendar year) per city. Word of mouth is one of the most effective ways to spur participation in the program, so activity tends to ramp up over time as word spreads. As requests in an area decline, the planting crew will move to an adjacent area to begin the process again. Beyond Energy Savings Large-scale urban plantings also provide local employ- ment, and tree planting is the only energy efficiency program where almost all of the economic invest- ment stays in the local economy. Local planting crews are hired and trees are grown at local nurseries. In addition, healthy urban forest ecosystems improve the quality of the water we drink, the air we breathe, the stability of our neighborhoods, and our sense of community and individual pride. To communicate these benefits to the local communities through existing trusted channels, EEA provides grants to grassroots non-profit partners who are already work- ing on related EJ issues in these communities. The funding helps them establish a link to urban forestry (if it did not already exist) and strengthens program partnerships while leveraging local resources. SavATree can help you look at the distribution of tree canopy across your city and relate it to the biophysical and social environment. Mapping is a tool to inform program, policy, and practice to identify opportunities for increasing environmental equity. We can assist with both mapping and practice support. savatree.com Trees | Shrubs | Lawn | Deer | Ticks | Consulting Where are the trees in your city? Contact us (888) 750-7977 www.savatree.com/consulting MEMBER This map, indicating tree canopy prioritization, addresses the need for green infrastructure, heat island relief and environmental justice. It factors in corresponding maps with the following variables: minority populations, median household income, impervious surfaces, surface temperature and existing tree canopy. Study Area Outline Highest Priority Medium Lowest Priority Census Block Groups Tree Canopy Prioritization

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