Trees and forests in our cities and towns are assets
to all who live there. Whether on public or private
property, tree canopy and woods or forests add
beauty, habitat, and a cooling, calming presence for
all to see, feel, and enjoy, if only from a distance.
Accessibility implies a different level of engagement,
however, and for public trees, lands, and easements
this means that everyone can peaceably enjoy
these natural and cultural resources in perpetuity.
Arborists and urban foresters can play a role in
helping residents to sustainably enjoy the many
benefits derived from trees. This article explores
foraging for food, medicine, and other mate-
rials by diverse communities with examples from
two cities in the United States. We also suggest
opportunities to enrich the values provided by
nature in the city by encouraging public access
for sustainable harvesting and enjoyment.
City Trees = Food and Fun
In cities throughout the world, foraging for fruits,
nuts, and other materials creates deep connections
with urban forests (Shackleton et al. 2017; Hurley
and Emery, 2018). Foraging contributes to physical
and emotional wellbeing by supplementing diets with
nutrient-dense foods and motivating active time in
the outdoors (Synk et al. 2017). Foraged species vary
across cities and cultural communities but many are
abundant, with invasive species frequently found in
foragers' baskets (McLain et al. 2014). In order to
obtain this bounty, foragers must be careful observers
of nature and many engage in stewardship of the
trees and woodlands in their city (McLain et al. 2017).
In the U.S., both immigrant and African American
communities may connect or re-connect to the
land and their heritage via foraging; it may also be a
means of developing greater food security (Linnekin,
2018). For African Americans in particular, foraging
may also relate to a legacy of land separation; a
recent article profiling several Black foragers notes
they may contend with "conflicted histories of dis-
connection from the land and a present in which
they don't always find nature a sanctuary." ("How
Black Foragers Find Freedom in the Natural World,"
New York Times, July 30, 2021). The research high-
lighted below reveals some lessons learned about
the hands-on benefits of urban foraging. >>
The Many Benefits
of Accessible Trees
and Forests
From the USDA Forest Service and Partners
By Marla Emery, Cassandra Johnson Gaither,
Patrick Hurley, and Phillip Rodbell
12 CityTREES
