TreePeople Expands Urban Tree Canopy in Underserved Communities to Combat Climate Change and Build Resilience with First Event This Saturday
TreePeople is launching a transformative urban greening initiative in partnership with the US Forest Service aimed at combating the impacts of climate change and extreme heat in historically underserved communities throughout Southern California. Funded by a grant awarded by the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grant Program, this initiative will focus on the San Gabriel Valley, the San Fernando Valley, Southeast Los Angeles and the Inland Empire. TreePeople will collaborate with local governments and organizations to plant 3,650 public trees and distribute 4,100 residential fruit and shade trees. These efforts will provide essential green infrastructure and resources to help vulnerable communities adapt to the increasing threats posed by climate change.
For decades, the cities of Rialto, San Fernando, Sylmar, El Monte, South El Monte, Baldwin Park, Lynwood and Paramount have endured systemic environmental injustices–resulting in these communities being disproportionately affected by pollution and urban heat. These areas are classified as "disadvantaged" according to environmental vulnerability tools like California's CalEnviroScreen 4.0 and the federal Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. With limited green spaces and tree canopy coverage, these communities are particularly susceptible to the increasing threat of extreme heat, which causes more fatalities in the United States than any other weather event.
Extreme heat is already a crisis in communities like those in the Northeast San Fernando Valley, where temperatures are up to six degrees higher than surrounding affluent areas. Tree canopy is crucial to cooling urban centers and saving lives. Our goal is to plant trees, build community resilience, and empower residents to take control of their environment.
Marcos Trinidad, TreePeople’s Senior Director of Programs
TreePeople’s first planting events with community members will take place in the city of El Monte with a groundbreaking tree planting event on Saturday, October 26. Through our volunteer-based event model, the public will have the opportunity to physically improve their environment.
In the San Gabriel Valley, specifically, TreePeople will collaborate with ActiveSGV, the largest community-based environmental organization in the region. ActiveSGV will lead the project’s community engagement and organizing efforts, leveraging its deep neighborhood-level relationships to drive successful participation in tree planting and care efforts. ActiveSGV will deploy a team of community organizers to work closely with TreePeople to identify canvassing zones, attend community events, and ensure active community involvement throughout the project. By working in partnership, both organizations aim to increase local ownership of greening initiatives and ensure the long-term success of urban tree canopy expansion.
TreePeople tree planting event in El Monte, 2023. Photo by Miguel Vargas.
Deliverables:
-Plant 3,650 public trees in parks, streets and other urban spaces.
-Distribute 4,100 fruit and shade trees to community members for their homes.
-Engage 7,000 community members through canvassing and partnership building.
-Recruit 9,000 volunteers and lead 200 volunteer events.
-Attend 300 community events to support and build partnerships with local organizations.
-Partner with 20 local groups, including non-profit organizations, faith groups and small businesses.
-Develop an urban greening displacement tool in partnership with the Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE).
-Plant 3,650 public trees in parks, streets and other urban spaces.
-Distribute 4,100 fruit and shade trees to community members for their homes.
-Engage 7,000 community members through canvassing and partnership building.
-Recruit 9,000 volunteers and lead 200 volunteer events.
-Attend 300 community events to support and build partnerships with local organizations.
-Partner with 20 local groups, including non-profit organizations, faith groups and small businesses.
-Develop an urban greening displacement tool in partnership with the Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE).
Key Goals of the Project:
Combat the Impacts of Climate Change: By significantly increasing tree canopy in urban areas, TreePeople will help reduce the effects of extreme heat, which disproportionately impacts low-income communities of color. This initiative is crucial as temperatures are expected to rise by 4 to 5°F by 2050.
Build Community Resilience: Beyond planting trees, TreePeople is committed to fostering long-term climate resilience by involving local residents in the process. By organizing community tree-planting events and distributing no-cost trees, the project will create pathways for green jobs, empower local youth, and build stronger, healthier communities.
Engage and Provide Resources to the Community: TreePeople’s community organizing team will engage directly with residents to ensure that the benefits of this initiative are widely felt. Through grassroots organizing, partnerships, and outreach, the project will inspire residents to participate in the stewardship of their urban environment and make lasting contributions to environmental justice in their communities.
Combat the Impacts of Climate Change: By significantly increasing tree canopy in urban areas, TreePeople will help reduce the effects of extreme heat, which disproportionately impacts low-income communities of color. This initiative is crucial as temperatures are expected to rise by 4 to 5°F by 2050.
Build Community Resilience: Beyond planting trees, TreePeople is committed to fostering long-term climate resilience by involving local residents in the process. By organizing community tree-planting events and distributing no-cost trees, the project will create pathways for green jobs, empower local youth, and build stronger, healthier communities.
Engage and Provide Resources to the Community: TreePeople’s community organizing team will engage directly with residents to ensure that the benefits of this initiative are widely felt. Through grassroots organizing, partnerships, and outreach, the project will inspire residents to participate in the stewardship of their urban environment and make lasting contributions to environmental justice in their communities.
Geographic Focus:
San Gabriel Valley (El Monte, South El Monte, Baldwin Park, La Puente): Planting 1,000 trees and distributing 2,000 trees.
San Fernando Valley (City of San Fernando, Sylmar): Planting 1,100 trees and distributing 800 trees.
Southeast Los Angeles (Lynwood, Paramount): Planting 750 trees and distributing 500 trees.
Inland Empire (Rialto): Planting 800 trees and distributing 500 trees.
San Gabriel Valley (El Monte, South El Monte, Baldwin Park, La Puente): Planting 1,000 trees and distributing 2,000 trees.
San Fernando Valley (City of San Fernando, Sylmar): Planting 1,100 trees and distributing 800 trees.
Southeast Los Angeles (Lynwood, Paramount): Planting 750 trees and distributing 500 trees.
Inland Empire (Rialto): Planting 800 trees and distributing 500 trees.
This project aligns with key state and federal initiatives, including the 2017 USFS Ten-Year Urban Forestry Action Plan, California’s 2021 Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan and the State’s Urban and Community Forest Strategic Plan. These initiatives prioritize expanding tree canopy in disadvantaged and low-income communities to mitigate the impacts of climate change and promote public health.
This initiative aims to create climate-resilient, livable communities better equipped to handle the future impacts of climate change. By expanding the urban tree canopy, empowering local residents, and promoting environmental stewardship, TreePeople is working to reverse years of environmental injustice and build a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone.
About TreePeople
TreePeople unites the power of trees, people, and nature-based solutions to grow a more climate-ready Southern California. The environmental nonprofit organization inspires, engages and supports people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment, facilitates collaboration among government agencies, and promotes leadership in grassroots volunteers, students and communities. In this way, TreePeople seeks to build a powerful and diverse coalition to grow a greener, healthier and more water-secure Southern California for present and future generations. For more information, visit treepeople.org.
TreePeople unites the power of trees, people, and nature-based solutions to grow a more climate-ready Southern California. The environmental nonprofit organization inspires, engages and supports people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment, facilitates collaboration among government agencies, and promotes leadership in grassroots volunteers, students and communities. In this way, TreePeople seeks to build a powerful and diverse coalition to grow a greener, healthier and more water-secure Southern California for present and future generations. For more information, visit treepeople.org.
For more information please contact:
Alex Miller
Director of Marketing & Communications
amiller@treepeople.org
Alex Miller
Director of Marketing & Communications
amiller@treepeople.org
