Help shape a future where cities and towns have the resources to sustain healthy forests and build thriving communities.
Advancing Tree Equity takes far more than planting trees.
It takes community engagement, coalition building, policy change and skilled workforce development. It takes time, commitment and hard work.
The Tree Equity Handbook is a step-by-step guide to achieving this vision. Whether you’re starting a Tree Equity initiative from scratch or looking for tools to refocus your efforts, the handbook provides accessible, actionable resources to help make your vision for Tree Equity a reality.
Data-Driven Planning
Community engagement
Forestry for people
Capacity building
Toolkits
Each toolkit is packed with information, practical tips and interactive resources to support every stage of your Tree Equity journey. Work through the toolkits in numerical order or download specific toolkits based on your current needs.
01 Collect Baseline Data
Begin your Tree Equity journey by establishing a strong data foundation. In this toolkit, you’ll use Tree Equity Score to gather data about trees in your community, identify areas with the greatest need and set priorities for the future.
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02 Build an Inclusive Coalition
Urban forests are managed by and for people. They thrive on collaboration. In this toolkit, you will follow a step-by-step process to bring together diverse, credible and vocal members of a dynamic coalition that will activate a community-wide vision for people and forests.
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03 Coalition Action Planning
Achieving Tree Equity is a crucial — and enormous — undertaking. This toolkit will guide you through a collaborative process to form a Coalition Action Plan that operationalizes your goals and reflects the community’s needs, priorities and contributions.
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04 Create Plans and Policies
You’ve collected data, built a coalition, and gathered community input to develop an action plan. Now it’s time to begin pulling on the levers of power to create real, measurable change through local policy.
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05 Develop a Workforce
Urban forests depend on a skilled workforce to thrive. Recruit and train a new generation of urban forestry professionals who better reflect the communities where Tree Equity is most needed.
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06 Fund Your Program
You know what your Tree Equity goals are, who will be involved, and how your coalition aims to pursue those goals. Now it’s time to place one of the most important pieces of the puzzle: Where your funding will come from.
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