How To Communicate The Benefits of Trees to Your Community

Effective advocacy for urban forestry largely hinges on being able to communicate just how much trees are contributing to their community.

For those who work in urban forestry, the benefits of trees are a well-established fact. The general public however, tends to have a limited understanding of tree benefits, both in scope and depth. These benefits, though vital to the livability of our communities, lack a formal market like other traditional public services, and are therefore viewed as free and taken for granted. This guide offers best practices for communicating tree benefits to the public to build community understanding and appreciation.

It begins with identifying the tree benefits that resonate best with the locals. Connecting the environmental services provided by trees with the topical issues of your community helps catch the public’s attention, such as emphasizing stormwater reduction in areas that experience periodic flooding.

The next step is to gather quantitative data on the impacts of your urban forest, which can be achieved through a tree canopy assessment or tree inventory. Supporting your messaging and advocacy with numbers brings a relatable and measurable context to the conversation.

Finally, its time to make that data matter. Using the communication channels that are accessible and affordable for your program, tell the story of the urban forest with eye catching dollar amounts and pounds of pollution reduced. Routes of communication include your website, interactive web maps, newsletters, blogs, op-eds, video content, podcasts, and by hosting or exhibiting at public events.

To access the full document, fill out the form and download the e-book, How to Communicate the Benefits of Trees to Your Community.