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Bosto= n’s Urban Forest Coalition Celebrates Successful First Year

As the 2006 calendar year came to a close, Boston’s Urban Forest Coalition (= BUFC) could look back at an impressive list of accomplishments in its first full = year in existence. BUFC’s efforts included coordination of a Massachusetts and National Arbor Day celebration, an inventory of all public street trees= in Boston, and a publ= ic program at Faneuil Hall, featuring Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai.

BUFC is a coalition of non-profit city, state, community, and federal organizations working to improve Boston’s urban forest ecosystem and thereby Boston’s public health and quality of life. Its motto is “Healthy = Trees – Healthy People.”

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR<= o:p>

Dear Friends,=

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As I look back on the past 12 months, I can’t help but think what an ama= zing first year it has been for Bos= ton’s Urban Forest Coalition! Just over a year ago when the group that would beco= me BUFC first met, I don’t think we could have imagined how far we would come in this short bit a time.

As we began to talk together, it soon became clear that we shared a common vis= ion for Boston’s urban forest – we wanted to protect and grow the urban forest because it’s part of what makes our city a great place to live. We wanted to plant trees, to help others plant trees, and to help people understand the importance of trees in our city.

In October, BUFC was honored to host Dr. Wangari <= span class=3DSpellE>Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate and Founder of= the Green Belt Movement. The Green Belt Movement began 30 years ago as the wome= n of Kenya found their environment deteriorating and their families with too lit= tle firewood, clean water and food. Far from giving up—how could they when the stakes were so high?—the women were able to identify the resources available to them, namely trees, and launched a movement to address their environmental challenges. But that was just the first step. By protecting t= he environment, these women also became powerful agents for social and politic= al change in their country.

Dr. Maathai challenged us last fall to remember tha= t the planting of trees, though it may seem like a simple act, is in fact profoun= dly important. Our environment is intimately linked to the peace of a city, and= it is important to understand that trees are our pathway to healthier, safer, = and stronger communities.

In Kenya there is a term, Harambee, which means “L= et us all pull together!” It is a term used to inspire and unite people in a communal effort. This term captures the spirit of BUFC so well! I am so pro= ud to be part of this organization that brings community and non-profit organizations together with city, state, and federal agencies so that we can work to improve Boston’s urban forest. 2006 was a banner year for BUFC, as you will see in this newsletter, and we are looking forward to another incredible year in 2007. = Harambee!

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~~Sherri Brokopp, = BUFC Chair

2006 MASSACHSETTS & NATIONAL ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION

Last April, BUFC partnered with t= he National Arbor Day Foundation and The Home Depot Foundation to plant 100 tr= ees in Dorchester and Mission Hill as part of the 2006 <= st1:State w:st=3D"on">Massachusetts and National Arbor Day celebrations. Jim Hunt, the C= ity of Boston&= #8217;s Chief of Environmental & Energy Services, addressed the crowd, saying, “Our urban forest serves as the lungs of our neighborhoods. The City of = Boston is immensely grateful to Bosto= n’s Urban Forest Coalition, as well as the National Arbor Day and Home Depot Foundations for providing these 100 trees and helping us all breathe a little easier.”

Boston Parks Commissioner Antonia Polla= k said BUFC’s “effort to improve the = health of our communities by planting more trees is a great example of what our ci= ty is all about.”

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Please cl= ick here to read= the full story...

GREATER BOSTON URBAN FOREST INVENTORY

In the summer months, BUFC oversa= w the completion of the Greater Boston Urban Forest Inventory, the first-ever comprehensive assessment of Bo= ston’s city-owned trees on public sidewalks. BUFC shared the details of its find= ings with the City of Boston and is working with the City on ways to utilize the information in developi= ng plans that will improve public health.

The Boston Globe highlighted the tree inventory i= n a page one article in June. The article featured maps, charts and photographs depicting inventory volunteer= s at work. In addition, The Globe posted the article on its website along with a video presentation, including photographs and intervie= ws with volunteers.

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Please cl= ick here to learn mo= re...

In October, the Coalition was extremely honored to host 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai at histor= ic Faneuil Hall. Boston Mayor Thomas M. = Menino welcomed Dr. Maathai, the first environmentalist and first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, with a personal confession: “I’m a fanatic for trees.= 221;

The Mayor explained that, “Trees do so much for the wa= y we look at our neighborhoods. Boston is blessed= with a wonderful array in our tree canopy, with 29% of the city boasting tree coverage. This is a better ra= te than New York or <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Baltimore, but it is not good enough. We can and must do more to retain = what we have and expand for the future.”

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Stephen Burrington introduced Dr. = Maathai to the audience of teachers, community leader= s, environmentalists, students, and the general public. In recognition of her appearance, = Burrington announced that DCR will contribute 100 tre= es to be planted in Boston’s public spaces as part of BUFC’s 2007 Arbo= r Day celebration.

Please cl= ick here to r= ead the full story...

BUFC WEBSITE IS UP AND RUNNING

Boston<= /st1:City>’s Urban Forest Coalition a= lso activated its website, www.bostonforest.org, in 2006. The site features news and informa= tion relating to the Coalition and its efforts to improve Boston’s urban forest ecosystem.<= o:p>

Please cl= ick here to visit the site...

MOVING FORWARD IN 2007=

Inspired and motivated by its successful start, BUFC plans to move forward with further efforts to increase Boston’s urban forest canopy cove= r, while involving communities and educating them in the importance of planting and maintaining trees.

“Community involvement and education about the importa= nce of trees in creating a healthier city are central components of Boston’s Urb= an Forest Coalition,” said Sherri Brokopp, BUFC Chair. “We’re thrilled that w= e had such a great first year, and we hope that 2006 will serve as a stepping sto= ne to even greater efforts in the future.”

For more information on Boston’s Urb= an Forest Coalition and its projects, please visit BUFC&#= 8217;s website at www.bos= tonforest.org or call 508-698-6810.=

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Best wishes for a happy and healt= hy 2007!

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Bo= ston’s Urban Forest Coalition

Boston’s Urban Forest Coalition includes the USDA Forest Service; Boston Parks and Recreation Department; Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreat= ion; Mass GIS; Mapping Sustainability; DotWell; Eagl= e Eye Institute; Earthworks; Franklin Park Coalition; Boston Department of Neighborhood Development; Urban Ecology Institute; Boston Natural Areas Network; and Urban Natural Resources Institute.