City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/701610
www.urban-forestry.com 25 ASF has provided funding to Iskashitaa Refugee Network for a number of initiatives that promote refugee integration and cultural exchange around produce like figs, date palm, citrus, and other edibles. (They are harvesting grapefruit in this image.) Trees that pro- duce edible products have been mapped throughout the community, teams harvest the bounty, food preparation workshops are hosted, and surplus food is contributed to the local food banks for distribution to the needy. Photo courtesy of Iskashitaa Refugee Network Arizona is a special place with an extremely diverse cultural history dating back thousands of years. Indigenous commu- nities have harvested from trees and other vegetation in the landscape for survival; European explorers and Spanish settlers brought their own conveniences in the form of food trees (figs, pomegranates, etc.); and farmers and post-war settlers realized that Arizona's climate was perfect for growing citrus and other fruit-bearing trees. All of these trees have become a part of the cultural fabric of the state and are celebrated in a variety of ways. Connecting citizens and stakeholders to this history through trees is one way to capture their attention and make the urban forest relevant today. Through the Arizona Urban and Community Forestry Program, a number of projects have been funded that make connections between citizens and their local/regional environments with the ultimate goal of promoting the urban forest throughout the state: • Conducting community forest inventories in tribal communities to support future management decisions and priority planning. • Completing historic tree assessments in rural commu- nities by stakeholders looking to revitalize their local economies by promoting the historical and cultural value of their trees. • Developing curricula that engages youth in hands-on tree planting and propagation while allowing them to explore the cultural diversity of southern Arizona. • Offering informative working sessions to explore effective strategies for developing local and regional tree and shade master plans, which have reached municipal planners, landscape architects, engineers and others interested in promoting urban forests in Arizona. • Hosting rainwater harvesting workshops where partic- ipants hone technical skills, combined with strategies for green infrastructure development. • Developing local partnerships to harvest food and fruit from trees (date palms, citrus, olives, etc.) as a mech- anism for reducing food waste and promoting refugee integration and cultural exchange. Taking proactive measures today that promote and support the urban forest is the best way for Arizona communities and resi- dents to adapt to an ever-changing environment. No one really knows what will result from the effects of a changing climate, but we can all work together to make this extraordinarily beau- tiful place a haven for years to come.