Urban Nature encompasses a new three-year project at Arizona State University—in partnership with community-based organizations, municipalities, industry partners and national organizations—that works directly with Valley residents to co-create actionable neighborhood forestry plans and to offer paid, hands-on learning opportunities into green jobs in urban forestry. Led by the Walton Sustainability Solutions Service at ASU, this program puts residents at the forefront of the planning process and expands career and entrepreneurship pathways across every urban forestry sector to grow and sustain nature-based solutions to mitigating extreme heat and keeping our most vulnerable residents safe. The project is tied to the Greater Phoenix Urban Forestry Accelerator, a $5 million, Justice40 initiative funded by the USDA Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Outcomes
ASU researchers documented and analyzed 2,066 data points from City of Phoenix listening sessions. Resident input, heat vulnerability mapping, tree canopy mapping, and community readiness enabled ASU and municipal and community partners to select priority neighborhoods and identify specific community needs. More than 250 residents in two City of Phoenix neighborhoods have been engaged since the program launch. ASU researchers designed and implemented Shade for All workshops that included a “Dreams of Shade” community learning game, drawing on the generative capacity of serious play to create a shared learning experience. Residents at the workshops came to better understand the difficulties and complexities, street by street, of increasing the tree and shade canopy in their neighborhoods, and ASU researchers and city leaders better understand the values, priorities, and experiences that need to inform a tailored neighborhood shade strategy and implementation of tree action plans.
ASU compiled resources for urban forestry workforce education and development, which included infrastructure documentation, core curriculum content, and credentialing pathways and insights into urban forestry value chains and career pathways. Community and industry partners then worked with ASU to co-design paid, hands-on urban forestry courses that map to green jobs. ASU is also working with industry partners and anchor institutions to design paid internship opportunities that support new urban forestry industry professionals making their way into green jobs. This effort simultaneously increases economic opportunities for Valley residents and also develops a method for addressing a significant labor shortage in key industry sectors. The program has already graduated 12 tree stewards in City of Tempe. Another thirty six residents in City of Phoenix are making their way through Urban Nature experiential learning courses teaching landscape design, irrigation design and implementation, tree care, tree removal, and soil building. In addition, one community leader is now a certified arborist, and 14 other community leaders are currently on their way to becoming Arizona Certified Landscape Professionals.
Quotes
For almost one year now, I had the pleasure to work with Dr. Clifton and Mrs. Marseille from the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Services at Arizona State University. During that time, we collaborated to incorporate community input and engagement into an Urban Forestry program that will transform our communities. This experience has been one of true collaboration and partnership. They have been an inspiration of how academia can work with community-based organizations to create innovation, inclusiveness and sustainability at the community level.
Emma Viera, PhD, MPH, Executive Director, Unlimited Potential
Project partners
● Arizona Landscape Contractors Association
● Arizona Conservation Corps
● City of Tempe
● Hustle PHX
● Orchard Learning Community Center
● Spaces of Opportunity
● Unlimited Potential
● Watershed Management Group
● ASU – The Design School
● ASU – Department of English
● ASU – Central Arizona-Phoenix Long Term Ecological
● City of Phoenix
● City of Mesa
● Town of Guadalupe
● The Nature Conservancy
● American Forests
● Arizona Nursery Association
● International Society of Arboriculture
● Bartlett Tree Experts
● US Forest Services
Urban Nature in the media
ASU leads new effort to get trees — and their benefits — into Valley areas that need them most
November 19, 2024 | kjzz.org
Arizona State University is leading a new effort to create community forestry plans in neighborhoods across the Valley. The Greater Phoenix Urban Forestry Accelerator is a three-year, $5 million project funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Urban forestry accelerator aims to boost green infrastructure, economic growth in Phoenix
August 05, 2024 | ASU News
From seeking out the best parking spot to shuffling for that one thin stretch of shadow while waiting for an unhurried crosswalk signal, many Arizona residents understand a common feeling: Under the heat of the summer sun, shade is invaluable.
This collaborative three-year project works directly with residents to co-create actionable Neighborhood Tree Action Plans while supporting economic growth.