Chicago, IL: Tree Ambassador Program
Policy Title: Tree Ambassador Program
Year Adopted: 2022
City: Chicago, IL
Main Citation: Tree Ambassador Program
Description:
The Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) is the Morton Arboretum’s urban and community forestry program, taking action to improve tree canopy throughout the Chicago region and the state. The CRTI acts through a number of programs in areas such as communications, stewardship, and corporate engagement to advance four key priorities: inspire people to value trees, increase the Chicago region’s tree canopy, reduce threats to urban trees, and enhance oak ecosystems. This includes Our Roots Chicago’s Tree Ambassador Program, made possible by the City of Chicago Department of Public Health, Department of Streets and Sanitation, the CRTI, and community-based organizations.
This program enables community groups to play an active role in increasing the tree canopy in their neighborhoods. In a typical two-year time frame, the Program accepts four or more groups selected out of an application pool based on their capacity to engage the public in tree-centered training and workshops. The Program provides selected groups with the training, resources, and funding to increase the tree canopy and build support for trees, becoming tree ambassadors for their communities.
This training equips new tree ambassadors with the skills to identify new tree planting locations through canvassing, then determining the feasibility of the location and educating property owners receiving trees. The trees are requested for planting by the City of Chicago using the CHI 311 app. Over the two-year period that community groups are a part of the program, participants can request as much as $20,000 for additional volunteer, planting, and financial support.
Additional Resources:
Chicago Region Trees Initiative