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Publication Date

7-17-2025

In the United States, grassroots responses have emerged to supplement urban forest management efforts traditionally led by local, county, and federal governments. Urban tree committees are one such grassroots response, whose service exists between a formalized organization and ad-hoc task force. While past research has described the roles and responsibilities of various urban forest management actors, no studies have previously established a baseline understanding of regional urban tree committees, including the membership of paid and volunteer committees, their programming and educational initiatives, and key audiences. In this study, we distributed a participant survey to all known urban tree committees of the six state area of New England, a subregion that shares a highly urbanized land cover, bucolic exurban landscapes, and unique political systems. Our study successfully recruited representation across small and large cities of each New England state. Findings are summarized in three sections: an overview that describes urban committees by geography and the timeline/ motivators of committee formation; 2) the workplace operations typical to urban tree committees, including types of organizations and their mission statements, personnel composition, meeting frequency and operational guidance, and sources of funding; and 3) the programs, activities, and participants engaged by urban tree committees. This study identifies the presence and prominence of urban tree committees throughout the New England region, elucidates the ongoing need for resident engagement in local natural resources management, and highlights the reliance on unpaid personnel in the municipal governance structure. Cities of similar sizes may share more in common than those of different sizes in the same state – and there is significant opportunity for cross-disciplinary research and practice to build upon existing regional strengths.

DOI

10.15365/cate.2025.180203

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