Philadelphia is home to more than 10,000 acres of parkland and 115,000 street trees, which make up only a portion of its amazing and diverse urban forest. Tree canopy covers 20 percent of the city, but it is not evenly or equitably distributed: some residents benefit from over 45 percent tree canopy, while others suffer in heat islands with as little as 3 percent. The Philly Tree Plan is a multi-year effort to create a 10-year strategic plan for the planting and care of Philadelphia’s urban forest, guided by the values of sustainability, community engagement, and environmental justice. 8,000 people provided feedback to inform the Plan, which will be completed in Spring 2022.
In this mobile workshop you will see two different aspects of Philadelphia’s urban forest—Haddington Woods, where Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and Fairmount Park Conservancy have begun a 23-acre climate-resilient reforestation effort in the Cobbs Creek watershed, experimenting with southern plant species and varying planting densities; and Malcolm X Park in West Philadelphia, where you will hear from community groups and volunteers who plant and tend trees to achieve a healthy and well-cared-for tree canopy in their neighborhood.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Understand the diversity of Philadelphia's urban forest, and the implications that has on its management and growth
- Learn about the joys and challenges of living alongside trees from community members who are working to grow and care for their own neighborhood tree canopy
- Learn about Philadelphia's strategy for creating a fair and just future forest
- Hear from the many different City, non-profit and community partners working to care for Philadelphia's urban forest
