Casey Trees
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Casey Trees is a non-profit organization established in 2001 to restore, enhance, and protect the tree canopy of Washington, D.C. The organization plants trees, trains people to become Citizen Foresters, engages volunteers in tree planting and care, offers courses on tree maintenance and planting to the public, monitors the District’s tree canopy, and is a voice for the urban forest.[1]
To restore the “City of Trees” legacy to the District of Columbia, Casey Trees works with residents, community groups, policy makers, agencies and others to plant and care for trees and promote the use of green infrastructure for environmentally friendly and sustainable development. Casey Trees collaborates with the District Department of Transportation's Urban Forestry Administration and has participated in revising the District's Comprehensive Plan and partnered with the District on the Main Streets and Great Streets initiatives and is designing their new location in Brookland NE to utilize green building practices.
History
Casey Trees was created in 2001 with a grant from philanthropist Betty Brown Casey. Following a 1999 Washington Post article with satellite images from American Forests showing a dramatic decline of trees in the District since the 1970s, Mrs. Casey was moved to establish an organization that would work to restore the tree cover of the District of Columbia.[2]
Casey Trees' first major initiative in 2002 was to inventory all of DC’s street trees. Over 500 volunteers walked 955 miles compiling information on 132,000 trees and planting spaces. These findings were used by the Urban Forestry Administration to establish street tree planting goals, priorities, and maintenance needs. The information was also used to develop an online tree map which allows residents to view the data.[3]
Programs
The Citizen Forester program trains participants in best practices for planting and caring for trees, conducting tree inventories, and advocating for a green, sustainable DC. At 500 and growing, Citizen Foresters serve as ambassadors; they oversee planting, training, and other activities District-wide.
The High School Summer Crew provides District of Columbia high school students with summer employment, exposing them to careers in the green industry. Student interns receive training in tree identification, inventory, and maintenance and participate in community tree care projects.[4]
Every fall and spring, Casey Trees helps organize Community Tree Planting projects in the city. The organization works with neighborhood groups and Citizen Foresters to plan these projects and recruit community volunteers to plant the new trees.[5]
References
- ^ About Casey Trees
- ^ "The $50 Million Dollar Photos", American Forests Website, "Success Stories," accessed October 28, 2010
- ^ Casey Trees Map
- ^ High School Summer Crew
- ^ Community Tree Planting Program