Building urban and community forestry capacity through manipulative social and physical infrastructure changes

Abstract

Funding and staffing for urban and community forestry (U&CF) has decreased significantly over the last decade. This strain has hampered programs and affects the health of the urban forest. As our globalized market increases, invasive species become a growing threat that U&CF programs struggle with in their debilitating state. The invasive species, emerald ash borer, has the ability to cause catastrophic harm to Minnesota communities due to the high percentage of ash on public owned property. In an effort to provide assistance, and build capacity for dealing with emerald ash borer, the Emerald Ash Borer: Rapid Response project was developed. This project utilized volunteers and community gravel beds to build U&CF infrastructure to increase the ability of a community to manage not just emerald ash borer, but develop a successful and sustaining U&CF program. The intensive and direct assistance method used in the project provides new ways for states and other organizations to consider building and tracking U&CF capacity in communities.