Growing Health, Strength, and Fairness

With an unmatched network of local planting partners, our roots in urban forestry run deep. To make sure the good we’re growing lasts well beyond planting day, our approach to neighborhood projects combines tree mapping data with the insights of our community partners. This collaboration of science and street-level knowledge helps us focus our work to be most effective.

Unfortunately, not everyone has access to the benefits of trees. That's why the Arbor Day Foundation is focused on working in neighborhoods of greatest need. Combining this approach with our wide network means we can make projects possible anywhere there is a need.

When a metro area experiences rapid growth, not all neighborhoods receive the same investment. This can be especially true in low-income and majority-minority neighborhoods. When areas are overlooked in this way, aging trees often aren’t well-maintained and new tree plantings aren’t prioritized. This disinvestment in urban forestry can lead to more negative impacts, like urban heat islands and limited community gathering spaces.

Working with the right local organizations in vibrant and vulnerable communities is key to the success of both trees and people. We intentionally support partners that root their work in the needs and preferences of their community. For instance, in Nashville, our partners are working under the guidance of neighborhood tree captains to distribute trees to their neighbors. These residents equip one another with tree care knowledge so the right trees are planted in the right places for the right reasons.

Redevelopment housing projects provide home-ownership opportunities in low-to-moderate-income neighbors, but they do not always include funding for trees.

We know that trees bring people together in more ways than one. In neighborhoods, they create natural gathering places to connect and build community ties. A tree can be a sign that a new development is more than a housing project — it's a community putting down roots for the long term.

What happens when a neighborhood lacks access to traditional supermarkets or other opportunities to obtain healthy food and produce? People living in these food deserts often end up eating more readily available, but unhealthy, processed food.

We work with local partners who understand how to best support their communities. In food deserts, we provide local groups with resources they need to plant trees that can meet their specific needs. Take our partners in Brownsville, where one group is using trees to grow nutritious food for neighbors who would otherwise have limited access.

Complex and enduring community challenges are all around us. And change doesn’t happen overnight. But planting trees is a simple, tangible way to create meaningful positive impact in our communities. Every tree planted gives back, and when planted at scale, we can do global good. We can’t do this work alone. But together, we can grow a more hopeful future.