Health
Urban Canopy
In this final episode of It's in Denver's Nature podcast, experts discuss the importance of urban canopy in Denver, exploring its benefits, historical context, and future challenges. The con...
Urban Canopy
Health •
0:00 / 0:00
Interactive Transcript
spk_0
Hello everyone and welcome to the final episode of It's in Denver's Nature podcast.
spk_0
This is a podcast produced in collaboration with Denver Parks and Recreation and Denver
spk_0
Community Media where we are in the studio today.
spk_0
If you'd like to know more about what Denver Community Media is, check us out at Denver
spk_0
communitymedia.org. We're here in the studio with a few guests who are going to discuss
spk_0
with us the topic of urban canopy. Tell us what you do starting from my left.
spk_0
Hello, I'm Mike Swanson. I'm the city forester of the city county Denver.
spk_0
Hi, I'm Kimi Wenferral. I'm the executive director of the Park People. We are a 50 plus
spk_0
year old nonprofit organization that works with communities to plant trees and improve
spk_0
parks for a healthy resilient future.
spk_0
I'm Brad Patterson. I work for the office of climate action, sustainability and resiliency
spk_0
in Denver. I have the honor and pleasure of working on building equitable community resilience,
spk_0
increasing biodiversity and ecological health through a lens of climate change vulnerabilities.
spk_0
We've identified those in Denver as air quality drought, flood, extreme weather and heat.
spk_0
And so I look to use nature-based solutions to protect people and property in Denver from those.
spk_0
Hi, Sinsura. Hi, my name is Sinsura Eads, assistant director for planning design and construction,
spk_0
specifically focusing on urban ecology and trails and get to work with all these great guests
spk_0
today on a lot of the work we're going to talk about. Great. Well, thank you all for being here.
spk_0
And we're going to just, you know, dive into urban canopy. Just understanding in more general
spk_0
terms, like if we can talk about what makes urban canopy, what is an urban canopy, and what are some
spk_0
of the benefits of having trees in our city? I'll jump in with the, as we call it, in the trade,
spk_0
UTC, urban tree canopy. But just pretend you're looking from above Denver, birds eye view.
spk_0
The canopy is actually a layer of leaves, branches and stems of individual trees, which
spk_0
create a collective urban canopy that kind of covers up the ground, shades the ground.
spk_0
When viewed from above, like I said, and the collective is more beneficial, say, than an individual
spk_0
tree. What would you say are the benefits of having collectively having so many trees in the city?
spk_0
So there are many. I wrote them down. Great. I'm going to look at them as I say.
spk_0
Stormwater management function. The canopy of the tree, the leaves, the branches, the stems,
spk_0
they help to intercept rainfall to slow it down. So the rainfall can percolate into the soil,
spk_0
like Mother Nature intended it to do. And or it also slows down the rainfall. So when it hits like
spk_0
a parking lot or a street, it helps the storm during its system, kind of just take it all in.
spk_0
So it kind of slows down the capacity. So there's one. The big one that I think our urban forest can
spk_0
really help with is the urban heat island because trees provide shade. Right. It reduces heating and
spk_0
cooling costs. The Denver's tree canopy also lowers air temperature through evapotranspiration and shade.
spk_0
Reduces air pollution catches the particulates. Like on those, see, I live in Lakewood. So I look
spk_0
out over Denver and you can see the brown, the brown cloud. So just those particulates that trees can
spk_0
kind of capture and hold for a little bit. Also increases property values lately, nationally, and even
spk_0
well, even globally, a lot about public health, mental health, nature, just not trees, but green
spk_0
things actually kind of de-stresses us. Yeah, for sure. So, I don't know if anybody else says anything else.
spk_0
Yeah. No, Mike, I think you covered so much there. I think whenever I think about the important
spk_0
benefits and services that our urban tree canopy are urban forest provides, I think in terms of
spk_0
all these environmental benefits, like the shade and cooling for our community, like the storm water
spk_0
management and flood reduction and those kinds of things, and then the economic value. There are
spk_0
studies that show that business districts that have well-wined, have a great street tree canopy,
spk_0
are able to attract and retain shoppers and people are more willing to spend money in those areas.
spk_0
So it kind of supports local economies. And then the social benefits, there are so many social
spk_0
and health benefits studies show that, you know, recovery rates of patients in a hospital room,
spk_0
if they have views of trees and green spaces are actually faster than if you're just looking at
spk_0
the interior walls of a hospital room and just a really amazing suite of services and benefits
spk_0
that trees provide to us and that really make them not just a nice amenity to have, but actually
spk_0
a really critical part of our urban communities. Yeah. And if I may add, I think Kim probably
spk_0
talked about this later, but the urban forest also provides jobs. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Through maintenance
spk_0
and protection preservation and renewal of the urban forest. Yeah. I'm sure.
spk_0
And piggybacking off of what Mike and Kim were talking about about community benefits, mental health
spk_0
and health like that, I really think that the tree canopy in Denver is really good for
spk_0
getting people together, like building community and just everyone, it gets people out of their
spk_0
houses, it gets people convening together and then it gets people exercising. So there's that
spk_0
physical health part. The tree canopy in Denver is also really important to protect biodiversity and
spk_0
give habitat and shelter and food for our urban wildlife. And it's really great for that as well.
spk_0
And speaking of the urban canopy in Denver, what makes up sort of like the ecosystem of trees in
spk_0
Denver? What kind of trees can we find in Denver? My thoughts were simply this that there's
spk_0
approximately half a million contributing individual trees that contribute to the Denver's urban
spk_0
canopy tree canopy. And it's continuous, right? What I mean by that is that it's just not what,
spk_0
well, let me let me reframe that. So continuous meeting, the public trees that the city inspects,
spk_0
monitors, maintains is basically about 14, 16% of the whole forest. So even the park trees.
spk_0
It's the other private property trees that make up Denver. So that's what I mean by
spk_0
continuous. I'm fond of saying that Denver's urban forest is a three-legged stool. So you have
spk_0
the right way, you have the parks and parkway trees, but then you have the private trees.
spk_0
Yeah. Yeah. Boy, I think in our park system, we probably have 400 different species.
spk_0
Oh, wow. Okay. I mean, sometimes they're just an individual tree. Yeah. But that's the point.
spk_0
Yeah. Then we have ash, which make up like 15, 13% of the urban canopy. So yeah. So again,
spk_0
that's a huge question. Yeah. Yeah, it's, we would have to make a whole podcast series just about
spk_0
just the types of trees that make up the urban canopy. I want to dive more into the history
spk_0
of trees in Denver. What do we know about the current trees? When did the cities start planning
spk_0
trees and how the strategy of planting trees in the past is different from the strategy today?
spk_0
You know, Denver was founded because of there's gold in that stream. So people started
spk_0
started coming into the confluence, Cherry Creek and South Platt. That's how Denver started,
spk_0
and there was trees along the waterways, mainly cottonwoods and willows. But kind of surprised me
spk_0
when I looked into this years ago, that they weren't like one, two, three, like uniform. They were
spk_0
spotty. Okay. But they were right along all the waterways, all where it's moist and wet. So there's
spk_0
kind of a misconception about Denver with a lot of trees back then. Anyway, so when the pioneers started
spk_0
coming into Denver and settling the area, they brought in their species from the east,
spk_0
pecans, wannets, sour cherries, oaks, maples, you name it, Elms. That's kind of how it all started,
spk_0
right? So but then come along a couple years after that. I'm really breezing through a lot of
spk_0
history here. But there's mayor spear in his Arbidae efforts where they gave away a million trees
spk_0
and one Arbidae. And most of these trees were fast growing because back in the day, they wanted
spk_0
shade, kind of like the same deal we're going through right now. They wanted shade. So they planted
spk_0
fast growing trees, Elms, maples, cottonwoods for the most part. And they were watered by,
spk_0
there was actually canals along the streets, along the streets where that's how they watered the
spk_0
trees at first in the right away. And then the parks and parkways as that began to grow in the
spk_0
in the late 19th century, I'm really going to maybe I need to ramble less. But anyway, in the late 19th
spk_0
century, that's when the park system actually started becoming developed. A lot of the trees were
spk_0
hand-wired because there was not a lot of irrigation. Oh wow. And then as part of the kind of city
spk_0
beautiful movements, trees were a huge component of how we beautified our downtown and park spaces.
spk_0
But can you speak to some of the work that we're doing around researching new trees that are more
spk_0
climate adapted? Because as you mentioned, this is a this was a prairie landscape. And then we
spk_0
introduced a lot of trees into a very high plains kind of desert environment. And we've had to
spk_0
rely on a lot of water resources to sustain the trees that we do have. And we want to maintain
spk_0
that canopy. But we also need to prepare for the changing climate and our water resources. And so
spk_0
can you speak to some of the research for the forestry division is doing on kind of how we're
spk_0
preparing for that transition? For about 15 years or so, we've been we've been pulling plant lists
spk_0
from Western Kansas, Western Oklahoma, New Mexico, even sometimes in Arizona, Montana,
spk_0
and we've just pulled up plant lists. And basically I would I would explore the nurseries to see
spk_0
which of these more regionally appropriate, zirric trees that can be bought. Right. And sometimes
spk_0
I would buy smaller ones just to see if they would grow, see if they can get through establishment.
spk_0
But we've tried Arizona Cypress. We've even tried bald Cypress. It's true really well here in
spk_0
Spots. And a couple of oak, Chink of the Note does really well. Texas Red Oak, Quirk is Buckley
spk_0
Eye does really well. But the point is, I think it's important to just demonstrate that we are
spk_0
paying attention to. You've been paying attention for 15 years plus. Yeah, no, that's great. And I
spk_0
and reproves their water and do landscape transformations. And so as you know, we think back on all
spk_0
the other episodes, it's not an either or we can do both. It's just we have to be very intentional
spk_0
about where we're planting trees and different species. So it's great to hear that we're continuing
spk_0
to research and expand the species list to be able to achieve kind of all these different goals
spk_0
we've talked about throughout the podcast series. Yeah. Yeah. And in the face of climate and just
spk_0
changes and are continuing changes to come, I think in addition to researching and looking and
spk_0
trying out species that are more adapted to warmer temperatures, Southern climates and and also
spk_0
drought tolerance. I think that, you know, we also continue to know how important it is to
spk_0
diversify our urban forest that we've got to be aiming for species diversity. The Emerald Ashbor
spk_0
has been such a, you know, real focus and important focus of recent years. This one beetle that
spk_0
stands to wipe out one in six trees in Denver because we over planted ash trees. So we're still,
spk_0
you know, very much have that lesson in mind of let's diversify the species that we're planting
spk_0
because that'll give us best shots at resilience and help the bark forest in the future.
spk_0
Another thing that the office of the city forester has been taking part in playing a big part in
spk_0
is the re-release of the new front range recommended tree species list. And it hasn't been
spk_0
changed or edited since 2010, I believe. And so it's due for that. And so there's some new tree
spk_0
species listed on that list that we can try out that are really have a great chance of doing well
spk_0
here in our climate. Yeah. And that list since I was on the first one 12 years ago,
spk_0
it's a tree is not considered safe to plant in Denver unless there's a 10-year
spk_0
history track record of it for maintenance. That has to be sort of like a proven history that
spk_0
tree can do well in our climate. Speaking, yeah, that yeah. Sorry, can I add one more? Yeah, for sure.
spk_0
You know, one thing that I think is so wonderful,
spk_0
all Denver Forestry through Denver Parks and Rec has been just this champion of trees for
spk_0
all time. And well, the park people we started doing urban forestry work over 50 years ago. And
spk_0
in the more recent decades, had started focusing a lot on tree equity because our urban forest is
spk_0
in the very least inequitably distributed. Some of our neighborhoods generally, like with many
spk_0
cities, the affluent neighborhoods in Denver are well forested. And then unfortunately,
spk_0
we have a lot of neighborhoods generally where residents are lower in income. They're usually high
spk_0
populations of people of color in these neighborhoods. And those are really low canopy neighborhoods.
spk_0
And so we started shifting our organization's focus to those low canopy neighborhoods,
spk_0
also knowing we need to serve the whole city. And Denver Parks and Rec has been such a great
spk_0
partner in that work. And would oftentimes come to support with the street trees, we'd be trying
spk_0
to distribute through our Denver Dix trees program. And then we started a private property
spk_0
distribution knowing, like Mike said earlier, that such a huge proportion of trees are on private
spk_0
property. They make up the vast majority of trees in the city. So that's a really important area
spk_0
of focus. So it was really heartening when the Climate Protection Fund was passed. And the
spk_0
Office of Climate Action Sustainability and Resiliency chose to really focus a lot of
spk_0
important resources towards private property. So I think that in terms of strategy of how our city
spk_0
is working to plant and grow in steward trees, we've got this holistic approach to the work that
spk_0
is accounting for those park trees, those street trees in the public right of way and the private
spk_0
property. Yeah. And I'm glad that you brought up the context of tree inequity because
spk_0
we all notice some areas are more covered with trees and then some other areas lack the tree canopy.
spk_0
And I'm sure we'll dive in later to some of the strategy specifically in some of those neighborhoods
spk_0
where tree inequity is more noticeable. I want to talk about climate change and urban forestry.
spk_0
What's the connection there? I want to dive into some of the perhaps common misconceptions around
spk_0
planting trees. People might think, well, if we have more trees, then we need to use more water
spk_0
to plant those trees and water is a precious resource. So can we talk about some of those
spk_0
misconceptions and diving to that a little bit more? Urban forestry. The way it battles climate change
spk_0
is actually through the process of photosynthesis because CO2, tree grabs it through the
spk_0
trees with the sunlight, grabs the carbon, sinks it, collects it, sends it into branches, roots,
spk_0
trunks, root everywhere, and then releases as a byproduct oxygen and water vapor. That's
spk_0
basically what trees do when it comes to climate change because the greenhouse gases,
spk_0
sunlight comes in or sun energy comes in as light into our atmosphere, does its thing,
spk_0
but it leaves as infrared light or radiation. But these greenhouse gases like the carbon dioxide,
spk_0
it actually, the infrared radiation actually hits the greenhouse and just bounces back the greenhouse
spk_0
effect. So that's what trees and prairies and other plants, it's just not trees. It's anything
spk_0
green that photosynthesizes actually captures that carbon and sinks it until the tree is removed,
spk_0
it falls down. Yeah. Yeah, I'll add, the urban forest has such an important role related to climate
spk_0
change that it can mitigate climate change by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and sequestering
spk_0
it and storing it. Probably the role that we talk about most in our urban context is really
spk_0
helping our communities adapt to our warming climate. Through directly shading our buildings
spk_0
and our streets and also evapotranspiration, that community cooling process, it is helping to
spk_0
lower temperatures throughout our city. And that's really important for all of our neighborhoods.
spk_0
And then especially our low canopy neighborhoods and our neighborhoods that have the most
spk_0
hard paved surfaces where the urban heat really builds up. So as we see our communities warming,
spk_0
more and more over time, growing a robust forest that can help shade and cool those neighborhoods
spk_0
and our whole city is going to be really, really important to reducing the vulnerability of our
spk_0
populations that are living in these spaces. Yeah. We're being very intentional for where we're
spk_0
planting trees, making sure, again, like what Kim said, where planting trees where people are,
spk_0
where we're shading pavement. And then evaluating those spaces where maybe we don't need to water
spk_0
certain areas of lawn. Like we've talked about, we're doing a lot of landscape transformations. And
spk_0
so now we're kind of rebalancing that use of water to provide additional water resources to trees
spk_0
as we're adapting species to be more drought tolerant. And then making sure we're being responsible
spk_0
with our water use and other landscape types. So I think that's one way parks is doing a great job
spk_0
of making sure that we're kind of thinking about this as a system. And it's not just about trees,
spk_0
it's not just about the ground cover. But how are these systems working together? And then it's also
spk_0
important, like we've talked about before as well, just making sure that we have responsible use of
spk_0
irrigation. And we're getting irrigation to trees again, and then being efficient with the use
spk_0
elsewhere. So yeah. And also in regards to climate change, where the tree goes is really important.
spk_0
So right tree, right place is the best practice. And especially on private property, when we're
spk_0
choosing where to plant a tree, you got to think about where the sun's going to be most hot in
spk_0
the summer. Also, you're thinking about trees can also slow down really cold winds in the winter.
spk_0
And they can also save on heating bills, actually. So right tree right place, you also don't want to
spk_0
mess with utilities underground or above ground. And that causes economic pressure to another places.
spk_0
So think about that. And then also, you know, trees can help create a resilient ecosystem and
spk_0
healthy ecosystems can absorb climate shocks better, like heat waves and extreme weather,
spk_0
things like that. How do you decide what areas of Denver need trees? What's the strategy behind
spk_0
planting trees? One, we have our tree inventory. So we know where the spaces are, at least in the right
spk_0
away, and parks and parkways, things like that. But there's also maps, I mean, given technology, GPS,
spk_0
GIS, I mean, there's maps out there. I'm sure this is going to come up in the conversation. But,
spk_0
you know, we're co-conveners in an IRA grant and we have to follow certain federal guidelines. And
spk_0
we're actually going to put a layer on our tree inventory. That's the Justice 40 map. So,
spk_0
so we're going to actually do work in those areas for the sense, but anyway, it's a lot about
spk_0
technology any more these days. I mean, what you had to go out and field verify 20 years ago,
spk_0
you can just get on a computer. Yeah, yeah. And I'll add to that the technology is so wonderful,
spk_0
the expertise of, you know, our city staff that knows the city well. And then we also
spk_0
our organization, and I think the city too, you know, really values community voice.
spk_0
When community members in our neighborhoods are saying we want more trees, we listen to that.
spk_0
We want to be careful about how we approach the work so that, you know, communities that have
spk_0
historically not had much power or voice in decision making processes have their voices heard
spk_0
about their needs and wants for their neighborhoods. They are local experts in their neighborhoods
spk_0
and local needs. And can oftentimes help really importantly inform our work and where we need to
spk_0
take on projects and plant more trees, steward more trees. Okay. And Denver is really
spk_0
latching on to that. And it's really important for Denver right now to listen to community too. I know
spk_0
that forestry is doing their strategic plan right now and their community outreach was robust
spk_0
across the city. Our office, the climate office did an initiative called Rapid
spk_0
Assessments where we went into nest neighborhoods that are and asked communities what they wanted.
spk_0
And trees were the top in almost every neighborhood, top three for sure. And so yeah,
spk_0
listening to the community is really important. And then going back to data, the data is very clear
spk_0
on where we need to plant trees. We don't need any more data really. So yeah. But there's city
spk_0
data from the office of the division degree and infrastructure and Denver Park and Rec and city
spk_0
forestry that tells us where we need to go with areas with low canopy. There's state maps that
spk_0
tell us the same things and then there's federal maps that tell us the same things as well. So yeah.
spk_0
And nest neighborhoods that acronym stands for neighborhoods of economic stabilization. And
spk_0
there are just areas and neighborhoods and communities of Denver that need extra investment
spk_0
because they've been ignored or disinvested historically. We've talked about the organization.
spk_0
Your organization came the park people that really are involved in this mission of building
spk_0
and strengthening the urban canopy. Are there other organizations that are part of these?
spk_0
What is the role of the park people specifically? Well, the park people has for about 55 years
spk_0
been working on urban forestry efforts. So we have a number of programs, five different programs
spk_0
that we run are probably our best known is our Denver Dicks trees program. So we provide free
spk_0
and affordable trees to Denver residents. Very much in partnership with Denver Parks and Recreation.
spk_0
We train community forester volunteers to be this amazing volunteer force and groups of community
spk_0
leaders, community connectors in our low canopy neighborhoods to mobilize and execute on tree planting
spk_0
and greening projects. We also engage with groups to plant trees at parks and affordable housing
spk_0
communities and and nonprofit headquarters. We plant in partnership with the department again. We
spk_0
plant tribute trees in our parks. And we also started about a year and a half ago a workforce
spk_0
development program preparing individual spacing barriers to employment for careers in urban forestry
spk_0
because we have a really significant labor shortage in the tree care sector locally. And so we need
spk_0
to be preparing people who need great job opportunities to help fill those roles for the municipal
spk_0
forestry departments for the private tree care sector businesses that we need to plant and
spk_0
steward these trees now and into the future. And they're really happy. We are definitely not alone
spk_0
in this work in addition to having wonderful city partners at Denver Parks and Recreation and at
spk_0
the climate office. There are a lot of other wonderful individuals and organizations that come to
spk_0
the urban forestry cause. So we see individual volunteers who come and get trained and
spk_0
become these amazing neighborhood advocates. We engage with a lot of resident groups,
spk_0
registered neighborhood organizations. There are a good number of other nonprofits that have similar
spk_0
and related environmental or community based missions that partner with us in this work or run it
spk_0
independently themselves as well. And then there are also businesses in the film,
spk_0
the public community. And I think for the park people, we like to think of it as a whole community
spk_0
effort because not all of our trees are in city property and it blurs lines into private property
spk_0
and we all benefit from these trees. We really need our whole community to get behind the planting and
spk_0
care of these wonderful tall woody creatures. Yeah. I mean, they are creatures, yeah, for sure.
spk_0
Yeah, I mean, it's definitely not an initiative that starts from nothing. I mean, it takes a community,
spk_0
it takes the community effort and engagement. It's never about working in silo. It's always about
spk_0
working together with communities. If anyone wants to volunteer with the park people, what would you
spk_0
say is what are the steps that any individual need to take to volunteer? We love volunteers.
spk_0
We welcome anybody to look into getting engaged with us. You can go to the park people's website.
spk_0
That's just the parkpeople.org and find our volunteer page. You can apply to be a volunteer.
spk_0
And then we also just love for people to learn more about trees because the more people know in
spk_0
their neighborhoods, the more they can become advocates of trees in their neighborhoods or in other
spk_0
parts of our city. And if they see a site that needs a bunch of trees or even a single neighbor
spk_0
that needs trees, they can help advocate and get those spaces planted and we want to be a partner
spk_0
in that work. So why is community engagement so important to urban forestry? Community engagement
spk_0
is so important to urban forestry because when people get involved in the planting process or
spk_0
you know, just in saying yes, come plant a tree at my house. That increases their sense of
spk_0
investment in that tree, which also supports their sense of kind of ownership and involvement and
spk_0
a sense of stewardship. And because you know so many trees are on private property in our communities
spk_0
because our city resources are limited, we need our residents to get involved in the stewardship
spk_0
of our trees across the board. Yeah. Urban and community forestry actually started as traditional
spk_0
forestry down in the towns and cities and municipalities. Let's call it a hundred years ago.
spk_0
But urban forestry is so different from traditional forestry, you know, the forestry is with the
spk_0
hats and cruising timber and whatever they're doing up there. Well, protecting water sheds and
spk_0
things like that. Urban forestry is just not about the trees and the communities or the municipalities.
spk_0
It's truly about the humans. It's really about the people. That's what urban forestry is
spk_0
truly about. Yeah, yeah, basically you can't have urban forestry without the people. They're a
spk_0
key component. I mean, I wanted to bait that a little bit. Okay. I mean, as Brad mentioned earlier,
spk_0
I mean, do you think that there's still, yes, the human component in an urban environment,
spk_0
I think, is definitely the number one goal. But I think that our urban canopy does serve a huge
spk_0
kind of resource to our urban biodiversity and the health of our ecosystem too. So I just wanted to
spk_0
I'm not just a Graham just saying as a program. Okay. Urban forestry. Yeah. This is just not
spk_0
Swanson talking. It's a it's a global statement that urban forestry is really about the people.
spk_0
So I think what Mike might be getting at is that we need the people to keep the trees alive
spk_0
in an urban setting. And one of the reasons community engagement is so important in that respect is
spk_0
that we need to meet people where they're at. We need to address a lot of misinformation and a lot
spk_0
unknown things and also understand the amazing things that the community can teach us in order to
spk_0
make that relationship happen to have a tree growing on someone's private property say. And
spk_0
we found a lot of success. There is a lot of success in culturally appropriate community engagement
spk_0
to get people to understand the value of trees. And also you can use a tree as a conversation
spk_0
starter to address to give other information to people that need other services in the city
spk_0
and to address other big topics like climate change and just use the tree as a conversation
spk_0
starter. With that said, I mean urban forest is also very multi disciplinary. So what you just
spk_0
said how a tree can actually start a conversation or but then it expands its spreads into economic
spk_0
or social sometimes spiritual or religious it just expands. So urban forestry can be very
spk_0
multi disciplinary. Okay, so I want to follow up on your point Brad, you know talking about
spk_0
meeting people where they are. And I want to bring by the conversation in the communities that are
spk_0
more underserved where there's a low urban canopy. How do you what's the conversation there because
spk_0
you know you could have a family with some socio economic inequities and maybe their first
spk_0
thought is not I need more trees. Their first thought might be I need to fill my family. So what
spk_0
what what what's the balance there? How do you inform and educate those communities about the
spk_0
importance of tree while at the same time you know they have to balance their financial needs.
spk_0
So the climate protection fund that funds the climate office in Denver is has a special
spk_0
ability to be used on private property which is fantastic. The city has not been able to do that
spk_0
historically. And so going in to plant on private property is not really the best the best way
spk_0
to do that is not to use the city knocking on people's doors. We need to use trusted community
spk_0
partners like the park people that have really a lot of experience with community engagement.
spk_0
And there is not that mistrust and that baggage that the city has in relation to these neighborhoods.
spk_0
And so that's really important. Yeah. When we first did our focus neighborhood initiative back in
spk_0
2002 and Whittier that's exactly what do you mean were you around? I wasn't on staff. But you probably
spk_0
heard about what we did we knew that nobody trusted the city. They saw the city come in they would
spk_0
drop the curtains lock the doors and just not even answer. So what we did exactly what you did
spk_0
and it was the sneaky was just yeah you got to think through it right yeah we we got an advocate on
spk_0
the on the neighborhood association that was had a pretty strong voice in the community. Jim
spk_0
did and I told I mean they've expanded that idea with their current program. I mean it's just
spk_0
amazing what yeah and even there's a there's a research paper about Detroit. If you guys are
spk_0
read through this paper where the city came in and go hey where do you get trees. Boom,
spk_0
pop in them everywhere right. The community didn't want them yeah they didn't want them. They had
spk_0
other considerations like you were suggesting. Yeah. So what you guys have done is so awesome.
spk_0
Community engagement is really important to have that one-on-one conversation which is really rare
spk_0
to be able to engage with a community member like that. And after the community engagement and
spk_0
and meeting people where they're at and the concerns have been addressed with you know up-to-date
spk_0
information it's important to not leave then right and so in the past that's how it has been plant
spk_0
trees were done here and then rolling out so there's establishment care written in to contracts
spk_0
that the city is using. There's establishment care best practices that everyone who's following
spk_0
modern urban forestry practices right now is doing that now and and so not just leaving staying
spk_0
in the community being available to give information and education and reminders about tree care
spk_0
to the community is really important. Yeah that's great. I love that point Brad and I think you know
spk_0
community forestry work is not transactional work it is relational work and it depends especially
spk_0
in our low canopy underserved neighborhoods on relationship building over time on trust and
spk_0
rapport building and the city recognizes that and so we've been so grateful to have in the city
spk_0
these partners who you know open up some opportunities for members of the nonprofit community and
spk_0
other folks that have been working in relation to neighborhoods to bring resources to bring education
spk_0
and then very importantly also to do close listening in those relationships for us to be you know
spk_0
getting community input to be uplifting community leadership so that we can really do this work
spk_0
the right way and have not only more tree canopy equity across our neighborhoods but also
spk_0
equitable processes as well. Yeah what are some of the opportunities and challenges you're working
spk_0
toward? I think that right now we have incredible challenges and opportunities with unfortunately
spk_0
more you know impacts of climate change really becoming visible in our day to day lives
spk_0
there has been more public attention more attention from different pools of funding and more
spk_0
resources made available for urban and community forestry work which is a really good thing and
spk_0
there are more and more people individuals and organizations that want to get involved in this work
spk_0
which is so powerful and exciting and also there's a lot of coordination that we need to do
spk_0
because we want to you know make the most of this moment and make really great impact together
spk_0
we want to leverage kind of the power of partnership and really put concerted efforts that will
spk_0
you know take our planting and our stewardship work to the next level and avoid you know wasting
spk_0
resources or you know overlapping too much in our low canopy neighborhoods in a way that undermines
spk_0
trust so I think one of our biggest you know good challenges to have is just that we've got to get
spk_0
organized and I mean so much of that is already happening which is so wonderful but I know that's
spk_0
one thing that we feel very aware of like there's so much good energy here that we just got to
spk_0
channel it correctly yeah and I think also getting the best practices right because urban and
spk_0
community forestry work is you know this intersectional interdisciplinary thing that involves people
spk_0
and groups we it also you know is very much a science in an area of expertise and practice and we
spk_0
want to make sure we're doing it right because trees take a long time to grow and they don't spring
spk_0
up on their own here in Denver we need to put intention behind them and we really want them to
spk_0
thrive so we want to we want to do it right yeah yeah I think there's challenges and opportunities
spk_0
trees have been identified as a solution to climate change impacts and trees are buzzing right now
spk_0
there's lots of funding coming down the pipe from lots of sources to plant trees in Denver
spk_0
um across the nation and so that's definitely an opportunity right now private properties a big
spk_0
opportunity um that's like Mike said that's where all of almost all our planting space is in Denver
spk_0
so really doing that the right way and and growing tree canopies and neighborhoods that way is
spk_0
important we also have a these couple challenges that I wanted to mention the challenge of pruning
spk_0
and taking care of our mature trees and and restoring the soil so that they stay around
spk_0
through their full maturity is really important removing trees is really important for safety um
spk_0
that just all both those things cost a lot of money um and you know so we're working on that
spk_0
forestry is avidly working on that um also tree availability is is a challenge
spk_0
coming soon to lots of people playing trees and wanting trees and so the right species needs to be used
spk_0
and tree availability is a concern it's like supply and demand yes there's a lot of demand and
spk_0
I'll supply so I have great partners they've learned well it sounds like yeah yeah I learned from them
spk_0
every time I talk to them a couple of the challenges that we face as a city is actually working
spk_0
together with other agencies um not saying we're the bully on the block or the you know whatever
spk_0
but uh we need to more inner agency communication because we could have more greenery I'm not
spk_0
I'm just not going to solely pull out trees in this conversation it's really about greenery it's
spk_0
about native grasses renewing the native grasses using regionally appropriate trees but just spaces
spk_0
of greenery yeah so the biggest challenge I know there's a lot to let's say just to get to the
spk_0
challenge the biggest challenge is concrete mm-hmm there's no there's no there's no soil volume to
spk_0
grow the greenery yeah alone trees and Brad makes a good point I mean part of water conservation is
spk_0
actually soil health yeah so I mean that's the biggest challenge eye faces city forest
spk_0
grass my staff faces yeah is concrete and they keep pouring it they just keep pouring it but we
spk_0
need more space for greenery yeah yeah we talked about private properties so I want to switch the
spk_0
attention here to residents what can residents do to promote urban forestry in their
spk_0
private property or right away there are lots of ways that residents can get involved so we of course
spk_0
love to have people volunteer with our organization with other organizations doing tree planting and
spk_0
stewardship work we have our community forest or workshop series that's starting up soon
spk_0
people can just sign up to be a volunteer outside of that as well helping with the planting the
spk_0
stewardship of trees which includes you know monitoring trees pruning them folks can do outreach
spk_0
work just helping to spread awareness about the great opportunities to get low cost or free trees
spk_0
where they can with certain organizations like our nonprofit help with office work or things on
spk_0
the the back end as well we always encourage people if they have their own spaces that can be planted
spk_0
whether it's the public right away those street trees or on their private property we would love to
spk_0
plant up those spaces in the with the right tree in the right place and with the right method and
spk_0
all that stuff but there are great opportunities to do that through the park peoples done for
spk_0
digs trees program or other programming through the cities wonderful programming as well
spk_0
and then we also you know just recommend that people do that learning get engaged and active in
spk_0
their neighborhoods I think that it's the best way for residents or one of the best ways for residents
spk_0
promote urban forestry is to learn about your tree and learn about how what your tree is doing
spk_0
in the ecosystem how it how it fits in with everything else and that is just going to open up lots of
spk_0
lots of new questions and doors and learning and then also trees need water in the winter so let's
spk_0
water trees year-round appropriately that's a good way to promote urban forestry yeah that's
spk_0
an excellent idea to winter water good job as a couple of other things I want to add you know
spk_0
the state nonprofit I think they're still around yes they are still around color or tree
spk_0
coalition they are the holders of the champion tree record for the state so there's another way
spk_0
for folks to get involved with trees is just to go out and look for a champion and they have a
spk_0
website call route trees dot org but what a fun way take your kids out and just go look for champion
spk_0
trees on a weekend or something ride your bike or somewhere and just go look but that's something
spk_0
also but something Brad said actually as I was getting preparing because I knew sensory was really
spk_0
going to just eat things about water I know this isn't on the tape but but but what what what was
spk_0
nice about this whole thing was I relived the waters the global water cycle getting ready for this
spk_0
I relived learning about the carbon the global carbon cycle for this talk I mean what's that
spk_0
saying act locally or think think globally act locally that's exactly what Denver's contiguous
spk_0
urban forest and partners are doing in a in a in our way in our in our in our separate ways so
spk_0
as a Denver resident if I want to plant a tree but I I don't know I don't have much knowledge about
spk_0
what kind of tree to plant or where to plant it what are some of the quick tips that you can give
spk_0
to those residents who want to get started planting trees but they don't know how.
spk_0
So there's a there's a ton of resources out there CSU extension our websites park people's websites
spk_0
just a ton of information out there so that would be probably number three on number three on the list
spk_0
probably but the first thing that I would probably do is look at your site look at your yard see if
spk_0
you have space for a tree and then think about what is the right tree for that space so if you have a
spk_0
a very wide open backyard maybe you go for a large shade tree if you don't maybe you have a crab
spk_0
apple or some other fruit trees that are edible things like that I mean there's shorter trees there's
spk_0
medium sized trees just look at your space so right tree for the right side site then I would
spk_0
start researching trees and you start looking at the trees that you would like that you possibly
spk_0
would like that would fit the site and then I would also if you've never planted tree before I would
spk_0
learn how to plant a tree I would go ask Kim at the park people or Brad at the climate action and
spk_0
sustainability resiliency office I mean ask me call me up I talked to everyone but just go
spk_0
educate yourself about how to plant a tree properly yeah and then plant the tree now I'm
spk_0
going to have my partners finish the molting is really important to help the tree out
spk_0
that absorbs moisture it doesn't dry out the soil it really helps the tree survive also
spk_0
extreme temperatures that's one it's important to plan for irrigation so you want to just think
spk_0
through how you're going to water the tree whether that's hand watering with a hose or a bucket
spk_0
if you have a drip system if you know your over spray from your sprinklers going to get the tree
spk_0
though we certainly you know we can grow our trees and also have water wise calorinoscape without
spk_0
that you know green turf so we want to be thinking about all of those pieces but that watering is
spk_0
going to be an important piece of it yeah urban forestry offers such an important and special
spk_0
opportunity for our human communities to sort of rebuild our relationships with the land with
spk_0
nature with the environment and to you know really create that ecological relationship like has
spk_0
been kind of talked about earlier where you know we have whole systems whole systems around and
spk_0
cycles around water and carbon and biodiversity all of the things and where you know we are
spk_0
stewarding the land and it supports us in return so I think that's just something that's so special
spk_0
about the acts of planting and stewarding trees and also that active engagement around urban forestry
spk_0
offers us opportunities to build relationships with one another with other people in our communities
spk_0
build connection and trust and relationships which in our digital age were just kind of sometimes
spk_0
separated from one another so I think that's a really special thing about it and also in the face
spk_0
of you know climate anxiety I think it's a very powerful tangible act planting a tree and caring
spk_0
for it and in getting engaged at the community level and with your neighbors you are meeting other
spk_0
amazing people who want to do good things so there's just real power in that climate anxiety I
spk_0
yeah I haven't heard that before but it's true like when we talk about climate change it's a
spk_0
oftentimes it's a lot of like gloom and doom and the sense of like inability like what can I do
spk_0
but there's a lot that communities can do together I'm surprised I haven't heard you talk about
spk_0
novel ecosystems you know you're right sensor I totally forgot to bring that up um you know
spk_0
the Denver area the cherry creek south plant confluence it was originally a short grass prairie
spk_0
eco region but through all the build up the buildings and streets and sidewalks and more people
spk_0
moving in and etc etc we have as human as as the Denver human population we have created a novel
spk_0
ecosystem an ecosystem that's just totally different from what was here naturally and when you
spk_0
have a novel ecosystem um it's kind of like a standard that you you have a framework to work in
spk_0
but it's all very localized you have to create how you're going to manage that novel ecosystem
spk_0
and I think a sensoracy urban ecology group in DPR is doing amazing things where there's space
spk_0
and doing turfkins versions and actually trying to bring back that short grass eco region will it
spk_0
will it be like will it be a full broad thrown blanket maybe not because we have the people in
spk_0
Denver have changed this ecosystem so much that again you have to manage it different you have to
spk_0
renew it differently have to protect it and preserve it just differently because basically even
spk_0
though we brought trees in and we we kind of blew it because all that natural biodiversity is gone
spk_0
well maybe not gone but scattered yeah and we created again a novel ecosystem by bringing the trees
spk_0
I really like what you said and I'm I'm guessing there's a certain element of creativity also that you
spk_0
have to use when you have to combine urban elements people moving in um you know and then combine
spk_0
these elements of nature we there is a lot of creativity of how we're bringing nature and biodiversity
spk_0
back into the city but we have to think about ways to also protect it because of how much
spk_0
human use and disturbance goes into some of these sites well it's kind of like the carbon cycle like
spk_0
the climate action when I was revis revisiting my childhood and relearning the carbon cycle again
spk_0
well I found interesting was that prior to you know a bulk of human populations in one place
spk_0
that the plants and the that the just the greenery the plants in that area could actually handle
spk_0
the carbon that was being created but because of us the system is literally out of balance
spk_0
hence all the talk about climate yeah anxiety and vulnerability I mean the system is totally out
spk_0
of balance and we can't plant enough green stuff yeah to capture that carbon and carbon stays in
spk_0
the atmosphere for like over a hundred years or plus and it it doesn't go away very fast
spk_0
we're just out of balance as a globe not just yeah yeah but look at all the awesome stuff that
spk_0
the city yeah not only parks and our partners are doing to at least absorb as much as we can locally
spk_0
when it comes to things like climate anxiety like it's so easy to feel overwhelmed and like wow
spk_0
even with how much we're we've warmed already or how much the climate is going to be warming
spk_0
that will never get back to where we were I think the question for us all now is what are we
spk_0
creating now yeah and what can we create going forward and I think one of the things that feel so
spk_0
powerful about trees and tree work is that it is a very tangible way that people can put their
spk_0
hands on something and together create something that even just and it's more than symbolic trees
spk_0
actually do stuff but you know also can you know reinvigorate the human spirit about like I'm going
spk_0
to be active with my life and my time and my hands so yeah that's really powerful feeling yeah
spk_0
and some of the highest climate change anxiety is with our youth right and so there's a tremendous
spk_0
opportunity to plant at schools and and get kids and students in their hands dirty like Michael
spk_0
Sainte and Kim was saying you know and that's that's changing and that just bring boards you to a
spk_0
relationship with the environment if you care about the environment you want to protect it
spk_0
I want to thank you all for participating in this conversation it was great meeting you all
spk_0
and talking about urban canopy I myself learned quite a bit I also want to thank you since Saray
spk_0
and all the guests from all the episodes we've made this podcast series of possibility thanks to
spk_0
Denver Parks and Recreation for their collaboration and input on all the topics we have covered thanks
spk_0
to Denver Community Media and all the staff here who have made this production possible from turning
spk_0
on the camera as the lights the microphone it's it's not a small feat for anyone I invite everyone
spk_0
tuning in to check the entire series we started in episode one talking about Denver Parks and
spk_0
Recreations in environmental priorities their community involvement in developing their strategic
spk_0
plan call game plan for a healthy city in episode two we dived into the history of parks and
spk_0
design and how it evolved over the years and we then continued the conversation discussing the
spk_0
importance of water conservation transforming our landscapes from the perfect blue grass to native
spk_0
plants embracing the idea of environmental stewardship and why it is important to protect our habitat
spk_0
preserving our biodiversity and native landscapes and finally here in this final episode where we
spk_0
discuss the importance and benefits of trees in our city you can learn more about this initiative
spk_0
it's in Denver's nature on Denver gov.org slash nature you can watch or listen all of the episodes on
spk_0
the Denver Community Media YouTube channel as well as a few podcast platforms spotify Apple podcast
spk_0
amazon google podcast and pocket cast thank you again and see you next time