Project Tells The Story Of How Trees Improve Air And Water, Quality Of Life
2015 was an exciting year for urban and community forestry!
Among the highlights for NASF include the launch of a new campaign to increase public understanding about the benefits that healthy forests offer to communities across the United States and the role state forestry agencies play in protecting the nation’s urban and community trees.
The campaign, called My Tree—Our Forest®, seeks to engage forestry experts, schools, and community groups in local efforts to place large, colorful tags on community trees to highlight the many benefits trees provide.
NASF produced recyclable tree tags which are available through our educational materials store at stateforesters.org/store. Each tag reminds passersby to “Care for a Tree. It cares for you.” Six different tags highlight the various benefits trees provide to communities, such as “I’m busy making oxygen for you,” “I’m keeping your drinking water clean,” and “I’m busy making city life fun.”
“Nearly 80 percent of Americans live in urban areas, and connecting citizens to the benefits of trees is more important than ever,” said Jay Farrell, Executive Director of the National Association of State Foresters. “The national My Tree—Our Forest campaign can enhance the forestry community’s excellent on the ground work to protect community forests.”
This campaign’s tools and resources helps meet urban and community forestry goals that were identified in the Forest Action Plans. In addition to state forestry agencies, service and advocacy organizations, faith groups, schools, and other communities are encouraged to participate by purchasing tree tags and sponsoring local urban forestry celebrations. To spread the word, NASF encourages its partners to share the campaign on social media using the hashtag #MyTreeOurForest.
The creation of My Tree—Our Forest was made possible through collaboration with urban coordinators and state foresters in five pilot areas (Alaska, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey and the District of Columbia.) The campaign was launched with the support of the NASF Foundation.