12 City Trees
A robust urban forestry program needs to engage
and educate citizens, public officials, and community
leaders. Their support can make the difference between a
vital, functioning program and one that struggles. Sharing
the message that trees are a community asset is the key
to building involvement and program capacity. As it is,
members of the public rarely look at trees with any depth.
They simply imagine that trees take care of themselves,
grow without any help, and live "a long time." We know this
perception could not be farther from reality.
Telling Your Story: Communicating with the Public about
Your Urban Forestry Program
by Beth Corrigan, Community Trees Program Specialist, The Morton Arboretum
As stewards of our urban forests, we need to share our
expertise. By communicating what we know about the urban
forest, we gain advocates and funding for trees. Time is
always a scarce resource, but in the long run, time spent
communicating with the public and officials is an invest-
ment that pays off.
One way to approach this is to understand our baseline of com-
munication, assess effectiveness, develop goals, and then get
help. Change takes time. Starting with an evaluation and then
expanding our efforts slowly will make them more sustainable.
The urban forestry program web pages for Ithaca, NY and Oak Park, IL are noteworthy for being useful, easy to navigate,
attractive, and thorough.
