Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association’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

Savannah is losing its tree canopy, and local organizations are working on restoration efforts. These groups are focused on addressing deforestation or urban development impacts and promoting tree planting. #ASCA #ConsultingArborists Learn more here: https://ow.ly/PPE450Uumx6

Each year in the United States, urban tree cover decreases by an estimated 36 million trees, or 175,000 acres. For perspective, New York City’s Central Park contains about 18,000 trees, meaning the U.S. loses 2,000 times the number of trees in Central Park each year to factors like urban development, industry, climate change impacts, and lack of tree maintenance. In 2021, tree equity studies confirmed that socially and economically disadvantaged communities are more likely to experience the negative effects of urban tree loss. On average, communities with high levels of poverty have approximately 41 percent fewer trees than their wealthier counterparts. To help combat this inequity, nonprofit environmental advocacy organization Faith in Place was awarded $1.99 million by the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program to increase urban tree canopies in the Great Lakes region. These funds will allow Faith in Place to facilitate tree planning and workforce development projects at faith institutions and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving disadvantaged communities throughout Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. A million thanks to Rev. Brian Sauder for sitting down with me to talk about tree equity and environmental justice for this article for Healing Our Waters - Great Lakes Coalition. #treeequity #treeplaning #environmentalworkforcedevelopment #freelacewriter #greatlakesregion #climateimpacts #urbantreeloss #environmentaljournalism

We reached a milestone 150 unique 'hosts' this week 🌿🏕 Our network of land owners, managers & custodians is so diverse now, ranging from families with a few acres to share to the huge upland farms & everything in between. What is the unfarmed?! On ALL farms, as Jeremy Clarkson has so enthusiasticly shown, are pockets of unused, unproductive or fallow land that are perfect spaces for zero-impact recreation. Woodland Copse or borders, grant-funded rewilded meadows, fallow or rotating pasture, banksides of rivers, ponds and lakes, scrub & rough pasture or hilltops with poor access. These are Wild Spaces that should be unlocked for responsible, sustainable access to a community seeking adventure, space & time in nature. Own, manage or care for land? Help spread the word & aid us in unlocking these nature-havens. #unlocktheunfarmed #accesstonature #zeroimpactrecreation

Our team has been busy these past few months! Jenny Smeltzer headed to the Urban Tree Summit and experienced a day of learning from some of the country’s leading experts about innovative efforts to plant, protect, and preserve trees in urban and suburban settings. 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨: 1️⃣ The Monetary Value of Trees: Dr. Asia Dowtin, PhD's presentation highlighted the significant monetary value trees provide, with over $33 million for stormwater mitigation in NYC alone! Quantifying these benefits helps municipalities justify tree conservation efforts and promote urban greening. 2️⃣ Tree Conservation is Key: Dr. Eric Wiseman's talk on Fairfax County's canopy goals highlighted that preserving existing trees is more effective in maintaining canopy levels than planting smaller trees. 3️⃣ Nursery Supply Chain Challenges: Nancy Sonti's research revealed the complexities of nursery supply chains in meeting the demand for trees, especially as trends in landscape design shift. While large trees may help meet immediate canopy goals, promoting tree diversity is crucial to long-term urban forest resilience. 4️⃣ Listening to the Forest: A field session at Langdon Park Forest Patch showcased an inspiring community effort. Volunteers nurture native tree growth by removing invasive vines and protecting young trees. These takeaways reinforce the importance of strategic tree conservation, diversity in planting, and community-led efforts. 📸 Photo Credit: Casey Trees

🌿✨ Exciting news! I’m thrilled to share Part 1 of a short documentary series showcasing my thesis project, the Mawddach Coastal Botanical Garden. This garden is designed not only to promote biodiversity and sustainability but also to provide an innovative, nature-based solution for flood management in an area severely threatened by climate change. This project is more than just a garden—it’s a response to the pressing issue of rising sea levels, offering a solution to protect Fairbourne from future demolishment. The Mawddach Coastal Botanical Garden is a living, breathing plan to preserve the coastal ecosystem while honoring the sense of place that means so much to the local community. I understand the deep connection residents have to Fairbourne—the memories, the heritage, the emotional ties to a village facing potential loss. My goal is to create a space where nature and people can coexist in harmony, providing a sanctuary that both protects the land and respects the heart of this community. By working with natural systems, we can reduce flooding impacts, provide a resilient future, and, most importantly, offer hope to those who feel a sense of grief over the uncertain future of their home. In this short documentary, I invite you to take an immersive journey through this vision—explore the balance between protecting our environment and preserving the history and identity of Fairbourne. Together, we can embrace solutions that address climate change, support the community, and protect this special place for future generations. 🌊🌱 Your support means everything. Let’s take action to celebrate and protect our environment and communities in the face of these global challenges. To ensure this project is considered as a sustainable solution for Fairbourne, I invite Natural Resources Wales, the Welsh Government, the Fairbourne Moving Forward Project Board, and local councils to explore this proposal as part of the conversation around Fairbourne’s future. I hope this innovative approach can contribute to finding a balanced and sustainable way forward for the village and its people. Stay waiting for Part 2, where I will show more aspects of this garden and the vision behind it. #MawddachCoastalBotanicalGarden #ThesisProject #FloodManagement #Sustainability #Biodiversity #CommunityEngagement #ClimateAction #SenseOfPlace #Documentary #FairbourneMovingForward

Upon entering Louisville, Kentucky’s Cherokee Park from Eastern Parkway, traffic flows in a circular motion through a famed roundabout. The circular aspect of the landscape architecture echoes a sinister memory: the rotating winds of the F4 tornado that devastated the park in 1974. A few steps beyond the traffic circle is the Wildflower Woods trail. In this urban park frequently plagued by non-Indigenous plants like English ivy, bush honeysuckle and privet, Wildflower Woods offers a remarkable look at long-established plants that thrive when Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s Team for Healthy Parks removes non-Indigenous plants and restores biodiversity to natural areas. The experience of hiking the trail is like viewing a living museum, with ephemeral spring flowers like Dutchman’s breeches giving way to Jack-in-the-pulpit and other biodiverse flora throughout the seasons. Discover how community members in Louisville, Kentucky, have been restoring Cherokee Park following a devastating 1974 tornado. Read the full article from Jesse Hendrix-Inman, Director of Communications at Olmsted Parks Conservancy: https://bit.ly/4csD856 #PowerOfParks #Conservation #ParksAndRecMagazine #Environment #ParksAndRec #Parks #Recreation #LocalParks

🐝 Bee Bricks 🧱 get cities buzzzzing again. Bee bricks have become mandatory for new buildings in Brighton and Hove (UK). All new buildings above five meters should include bee bricks and bird nesting boxes suitable for swifts. Bee bricks are the same size as regular bricks but integrate a series of narrow openings like those where solitary bees are known to nest. The aim is to increase opportunities for biodiversity. Naturally, this is just a (small) partial solution, but it's a great example of how we can build much more nature inclusively. The same goes for Utrecht's green buzzz stops, seeding native wildflowers, switching pavement tiles for little green plots etc. But every little bit counts. #bees #biodiversity #bees #bricks #natureinclusive #building

It's been a great start to the new year, with confirmation of resolution to grant planning permission, subject to a legal agreement for Laindon Road, Billericay on behalf of Gleeson Land. Working with tor&co, iTransport, The Ecology Partnership, richards urban design ltd and proactively with Officers at Basildon Borough Council throughout the application process, has culminated in a highly sustainable grey belt release scheme, that is also a draft allocation in the Regulation 18 consultation. The scheme, whilst providing up to 250 much needed high-quality homes, is sensitive to existing landscape features, with the celebration of veteran trees, retention of hedgerows and enhancements to the edge habitat of ancient woodland. Existing and new residents will have access to public open space totalling 7.8 ha - 128% above policy requirements. Integrated SuDS, semi-improved grassland, wetland, community gardens and woodland copse all contribute to a biodiversity net gain of circa 26%. A new green neighbourhood for Billericay!

🌿 Exciting News Alert! 🌿 Thrilled to share a heartening development in the realm of conservation and diversity! Recently, a groundbreaking workshop on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the outdoors brought together an array of passionate individuals from esteemed organizations including Missouri River Relief, Missouri Stream Team, Missouri Master Naturalists, Missouri River Bird Observatory, Missouri Conservation Corps, Boone County Stormwater Management, and the Columbia Office of Sustainability. This workshop marked a significant milestone as it was the first time these local conservation groups united to engage in discussions about DEI in outdoor spaces. The event underscored the pressing need to address disparities that persist in conservation, a sector where diversity and inclusion are crucial for meaningful impact. As highlighted in a recent news article, the workshop shed light on stark realities such as the "green ceiling" phenomenon, with only 12% to 16% of minorities holding leadership roles in environmental organizations, and disparities in National Park Service visitation and employment. During the workshop's small group discussions, participants delved into the root causes behind these disparities, exploring concepts like adherence to outdated norms, resistance to change, financial barriers, and the pervasive influence of institutional racism. This collaborative effort among diverse conservation stakeholders exemplifies the power of coming together to confront systemic challenges and drive positive change. It serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for fostering a more inclusive and equitable future in conservation. Kudos to all involved in this transformative initiative! Let's continue championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in every facet of our work for a more sustainable and just world. #DiversityInConservation #EquityInNature #InclusiveOutdoors #ConservationLeadership #DiversityJointVenture