Sophie Bird Murphy’s Post

A Framework for Inclusive Tree Planting in Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Urban Forest Equity Collective has developed an equity-centered tree-planting framework and toolkit to address historic underinvestment and mitigate extreme heat in vulnerable neighborhoods. https://lnkd.in/est5wp5R

Did you know the Nashville area was once home to sprawling prairie ecosystems where rare wildflowers, tall grasses, and even cacti thrived? Most don’t. That’s because over 99% of Tennessee’s native grasslands have already been lost, and they’re still disappearing quickly. Read our latest blog post written by the Cumberland River Compact to find out why - and what Nashville residents can do to help offset this loss. The Cumberland River Compact is a nonprofit dedicated to improving water quality in the Cumberland River basin. They’ve been working for years to reduce pollution from stormwater runoff in Nashville by building rain gardens, depaving unused parking lots, planting trees, and more. Prairie ecosystems act as natural rainwater sponges that filter pollutants, purify water, and prevent erosion - that’s why prairie restoration is the Compact’s latest undertaking, and they want you to get involved! Find out how with the link below. https://lnkd.in/eyhcz2Dc

When you work in national policy, everything can seem very big and hard and abstract. That's why I love local reminders of the impact policy work can have. This is one of my favorite weeks a year in my home of a decade, Montgomery County, Maryland. It's shade tree application week, now through August 8! If you are selected, a lovely and experienced arborist comes to your house, determines how many trees can be planted, and helps you choose from several native species depending on what look you're aiming for. And then in a few months, a crew comes and plants your trees. The program also gives preference to #TreeEquity zones, which is important because parts of the county with fewer trees are hotter, which can lead to worse health outcomes. Tree equity is a big focus of national organizations like American Forests, but the impact is felt at a local level in places like Montgomery County Government. If you're in MoCo and want to apply this year, check out the link in the comments. 👇

Nature is essential for both mental and physical well-being. Studies show that even a glimpse of nature from a hospital window can speed recovery. Trees, in particular, benefit communities in multiple ways: ✅ Improving mood and mental health ✅ Enhancing air quality ✅ Promoting physical activity ✅ Fostering social connections ✅ Mitigating urban heat Unfortunately, many communities lack access to nature, causing them to miss out on multiple health benefits. Thankfully, with funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program ensures underserved communities have equitable access to trees and green spaces—a crucial step toward equity and justice! As we celebrate, #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, we shed light on the vital role of tree equity in enhancing public health and well-being. Check out the recent blog post from the U.S. Forest Service highlighting the powerful impact of trees and nature on mental and physical health! ⬇ https://lnkd.in/gxH4u6Tb #FundingUrbanForestry #TreesForHealth #TreeEquity

Cooperative living might look idyllic on paper, but intentional communities aren’t easy to sustain. It takes a hardy soul to weather all the monetary struggles, power imbalances, compromises with neighbors, and other complications that come with choosing this lifestyle. According to Diana Leafe Christian’s book, Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities, 90 percent of all ecovillages and off-grid communes are destined for early collapse. So how has Red Earth Farms, a 76-acre collective in the rolling hills of northeast Missouri, been going strong since 2005? Part of the answer comes down to elbow room. https://lnkd.in/g4BSxr3q

🌳 Louisville is taking significant steps to address urban heat and improve public health by prioritizing tree planting. Once the fastest-growing urban heat island in the U.S., the city has struggled with sparse tree coverage, contributing to higher temperatures and poor air quality. In response, Louisville is investing in urban reforestation, particularly in underserved areas. A $12 million federal grant will help plant 5,000 trees and enhance workforce development in these communities, focusing on tree equity as a critical health initiative. This effort underscores how urban greening can mitigate environmental challenges and create healthier living spaces.

RaganSmith, a Pape-Dawson Engineers company, is working with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation on the #TennesseeBlueways initiative – a strategic 5-year plan that will reimagine the recreational river corridors and river trails across the State of Tennessee.

Keep your community cool with help from American Forests' new tree equity analysis tool. 🌳🌳🌳 The DC-based advocacy group recently evaluated Indianapolis to identify which neighborhoods would most benefit from tree cover. Urban trees have been shown to reduce surface temperatures and the risk of heat stress as high-heat days become more common due to climate change. Carly Weidman from Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. recently helped the city reach a goal of planting 30,000 trees! If your city, town, or county wants to join the tree planning and planting party, applications for ERI's 2025 Resilience Cohort are currently being accepted. Through the program's Urban Green Infrastructure track, communities receive support in conducting a tree canopy analysis and developing an equity-based plan. Communities also receive up to 100 trees to be planted in disadvantaged areas identified in the planting plan. Read the article on Indy tree cover: https://lnkd.in/gzDrHxAv Learn more about the Resilience Cohort program: https://lnkd.in/gUXRDEC3 #urbantrees #resilientcommunities

Action for nature is already happening on the ground in Sussex but isn't always visible. 🌱 🐝 In recent meetings with farmer clusters across Sussex, the LNRS team have heard about interventions taken to improve habitats and support species, at the same time as running a business. That these aren't known more broadly or celebrated is because land managers are busy getting on with it. The purpose of #LocalNatureRecoveryStrategies for Sussex is to identify opportunities for nature's recovery, but to do that, it’s important we know where we're actually starting from. 🎯 If you're a farmer, community group, organisation or land manager use the voluntary tool to MapYourActions for nature. Whether they are large or small, in progress, implemented or planned, the Sussex LNRS team want to hear about them! Find out more and register to add your projects to the map: https://shorturl.at/GCcPF