Inspired by the work of Masuda and
colleagues (2014), we recommend
practitioners adopt an equity-focused
knowledge translation framework,
where practitioners recognize the
relationship between knowledge and
power and the institutional and/or
regulatory conditions in which knowl-
edge is produced, translated, and
communicated. This type of frame-
work involves a reflexive practice that
embraces inclusivity, transparency,
and humility. In the context of urban
trees, this means disclosing the risks
of urban trees, practicing active lis-
tening and welcoming insights from
"non-experts" and those with lived
experience. Ultimately, advancing
environmental justice in urban forest
plans and policies requires sustained
community engagement to elevate
and center voices that have been
under-represented in urban forestry.
Seattle's Urban Forest Plan
Seattle's new UFMP, published in 2020, begins by acknowledging
how discriminatory practices such as redlining impacted the
urban forest distribution. Seattle emphasized their commitment
to intentional and ongoing engagement with 'environmental
justice priority communities' who they define as "commu-
nities of color, immigrants, refugees, youth, individuals with
limited English proficiency, people with low incomes, and
Indigenous peoples." During the public engagement process
Seattle received feedback from these communities, which
led their plan to be focused on racial and social equity.
In addition to centering racial equity, a priority action identified in Seattle's UFMP was to transform portions of
private property in industrial areas so that trees and other green infrastructure could thrive while promoting better
health outcomes for the neighboring communities. As a result, the City of Seattle partnered with DIRT Corps to hire
residents to build and fill tree/vegetation boxes which were placed on industrial properties adjacent to residential
neighborhoods in the Duwamish Valley (a nationally recognized Superfund Site). Photo Courtesy DIRT Corps
30 CityTREES
