Urban Forestry: Making an Impact with Urban Legends

We want to take time to thank our 2023 Urban Legends, who have gone above and beyond to make an impact for community greenspaces across the US.

What is Urban Forestry?

Urban Forestry involves the establishment, maintenance, and management of trees and tree populations within a metropolitan area. Establishing a thriving, biodiverse urban forest is extremely important for community health. Urban trees serve as primary infrastructure in providing key ecosystem services such as stormwater mitigation, urban heat island reduction, and noise/air pollution removal.

Unfortunately, trees are not distributed equally in urban areas; communities of color and low-income communities that are disproportionately affected by climate change are known to have the weakest urban tree canopies and need urban trees now more than ever. With intentional, successful urban forestry through our Urban Action Fund and Urban Legend program, we can help our cities thrive through supporting them in their efforts to achieve Tree Equity. Learn more about Urban Forestry in our video below! 

The Urban Legend Impact

In 2022, One Tree Planted launched the Urban Forestry Action Fund to implement a diverse mix of city-based projects with an emphasis on addressing equity and justice, supporting long-term visions, and building the field of urban forestry.

This April we introduced the Urban Legend program, a 2023 urban forestry initiative where our corporate sponsors became Urban Legends by donating $10,000 or more to our Urban Forestry Action Fund during Earth Month (April 1st - 30th). Participation in this initiative allowed our partners to have a hand in reforestation efforts across high-impact urban forestry projects across America. 

We're pleased to announce that our first Urban Legend program launch contributed to thousands of trees committed to be planted in 27 high-impact urban forestry projectsacross the United States with the help of hundreds of volunteers this year. Urban Forestry projects include planting 300 trees across Los Angeles' Emerald Necklace, 476 trees in Miami's Earhart park and 450 trees in New York City's Highbridge Park. A big thank you to our Urban Legends: Origins, Boxed Water, Better Natured, Main St. America, Flo, One Golden Thread, and BMO who made it possible to help many underserved urban communities by getting more trees in the ground!