Holyoke Urban Forest Equity Plan

In 2021 the City of Holyoke worked in partnership with Davey Resource Group, Community Circle, and Fair Forests Consulting to create a comprehensive strategy for protecting and expanding our city’s trees. The Urban Forest Equity planning process included a public tree inventory to learn more about our existing urban canopy, and a series of public forums and other activities to better understand community priorities for Holyoke’s trees. 

Green space and climate change resources

i-Tree is a state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed software suite from the U.S. Forest Service that provides urban and rural forestry analysis and benefits assessment tools. The i-Tree tools can help strengthen forest management and advocacy efforts by quantifying forest structure and the environmental benefits that trees provide. This tool is used across the globe as the leading means to assess urban forest benefits and economic values.

Trees are a valuable tool for improving public health in America’s cities. They reduce harmful pollutants and mitigate summer air temperatures. And when residents are in close proximity to parks, it has been shown to have both physical and mental health benefits. Yet as the scientific case for the benefits of urban trees has grown stronger in recent decades, public investment in them has decreased. A recent publication from The Nature Conservancy outlines some of the public health benefits that trees provide to city residents. “How Cities Can Harness the Public Health Benefits of Urban Trees.” Another recent publication, “Urban Trees, Air Quality, and Asthma,” provides an interdisciplinary review on urban trees, air quality, and asthma. 

Creating greener, more walkable cities with parks and green spaces can help improve air quality and overall health.