ACTrees is pleased to highlight “success stories” and best practices for organizations and others involved in tree planting, urban forestry, and other greening activities. Use the innovative ideas and approaches to successful urban greening programs found in these models to replicate in your own community.
For a full list of “Greening Success Stories,” visit the Success Stories Archive.
(San Francisco, CA)- Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) works with more than 100 Bay Area artists to present a biennial exhibition and auction of original artwork of, or inspired by, trees. Proceeds from the event help fund tree planting and other FUF urban forestry programs.
(Lisle, IL)- The Morton Arboretum played a lead role in creating a network of public and private organizations to develop a readiness plan for addressing the invasion of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in the state of Illinois.
(Los Angeles, CA)- For the last 21 years, TreePeople has hosted a gala fundraiser and awards benefit dinner every autumn in recognition and celebration of partnerships and people that have supported the organization and its mission throughout the year.
Dealing with Drought and Water Restrictions: Trees Atlanta
(Atlanta, GA)- Trees Atlanta, in partnership with the city’s Department of Watershed Management, recycles the water flushed daily from fire hydrants to soak 3,000 downtown trees and hundreds in surrounding neighborhoods.
Volunteer Mobilization: Casey Trees
(Washington, DC)- Casey Trees works with the District of Columbia’s Urban Forestry Administration to water newly planted street trees with Ooze Tubes®. Utilizing an extensive tree inventory and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, Casey Trees has created an efficient method for mobilizing volunteers to install Ooze Tubes to water trees during the summer.
NeighborWoods Youth: Keep Indianapolis Beautiful
(Indianapolis, IN)- For the past three years, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. (KIB) has operated a Youth Tree Team which helps maintain the trees planted each year on public lands such as schools, parks, greenways and along highways. Using water donated by the local water company, the Youth Tree Team waters 500 trees each week during spring, summer and fall seasons.
(Philadelphia, PA)- The venerable Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) has become an influential force for urban forestry in Philadelphia. Founded in 1827, America’s first horticultural society leveraged the power of its members and other environmental advocates to make greening issues a prominent item on the public agenda during the city’s 2007 mayoral race.
(Albuquerque, NM)- Tree New Mexico (TNM), with the support of PNM, a local public utility, has designed and implemented a public education and tree planting program to mitigate carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during a special Christmas celebration in 2005.
(St. Louis, MO)- Forest ReLeaf, through its Project ReLeaf tree sale program, offers large-caliper quality trees at a reduced cost to municipalities, schools, churches, parks, nonprofits and neighborhood groups. Since its inception in 1994, Project ReLeaf has provided more than 29,000 low-cost trees for planting on public or nonprofit land throughout Missouri and southern Illinois.