Conservation, Protection, and Enhancement of Forest Canopies in Rural Communities and Small Municipalities

The Urban Forest Initiative (UFI) will work with small KY municipalities (<50K) to map and inventory community trees, quantify their ecosystem benefits, and identify canopy deficiencies. We will assist selected communities in generating landscape plans to create healthy forests along the urban-suburban-rural transition, enhancing tree species diversity, increasing resilience to decline associated with biotic and abiotic forces, while maximizing ecosystem benefits. We will assist in development of community-specific tree canopy engagement tools and support their implementation. Finally, UFI will deliver training in tree care to initiate a pathway for arboriculture job training. This project leverages UFI’s expertise in mapping, planning, wellness, and community engagement.