Guest Contributor: Nancy A. Wolf, Environmental Education Consultant

In early April 2024, Trees Atlanta was the site of the first-ever reunion of the founders of the Alliance for Community Trees (ACT). Twenty urban forestry veterans greeted each other with hugs, memories and stories.  All who attended had been part of the creation of urban forestry — a new vision of trees that came from work at the local level — a true “bottom up” force that could not be denied.

The Alliance for Community Trees, an independent not-for-profit urban forestry network created in the early 1990s by a few “tree groups,” now includes members from 16 countries (including a group in Kiev, Ukraine!) as well as 59 states and provinces in the United States and Canada.  Six member groups hail from New York State: Fort Greene Park Conservancy in Brooklyn; New York Restoration Project in Manhattan; Camillus Parks & Recreation; Genesee Valley Conservancy; Greater Newburgh Parks Conservancy; and the New York State Urban Forestry Council. ACT is now a component of Arbor Day Foundation, where it is growing steadily and raising millions for important local urban forestry funding.

Founders Alliance for Community Trees

The founders were at the time of ACT’s creation leading tree-oriented work in major cities. They recognized each other as fellow professionals in what they believed would evolve into a major part of forestry, as it has now indeed become. They learned from each other and collaborated in many ways, including as advocates for increased funding at all levels of government.

Some of the early activists have stayed in touch, though most have focused on their work at home. But they have never forgotten each other. In Spring 2023 a “big chill” moment came when founder Sue Probart of Tree New Mexico died. Many realized the need to get together to honor Sue while creating a reunion for many who had lost touch.

Trees Atlanta, one of the most successful of the original tree groups, agreed to host the meeting, and its outstanding headquarters proved perfect for three days of formal discussions, focus roundtables and individual conversations. Dr. Kathleen Wolf, recently retired from the University of Washington and a well-known urban forestry social science researcher, volunteered her time to be with the group and established a format for the discussion. A document of the proceedings will eventually be placed in the Forest Service archives in Missoula, Montana.

Trees Atlanta Headquarters

“Tree group” leaders who participated in this outstanding event included:

  • Andy Lipkis, founder of TreePeople in Los Angeles and now with Acceleratela
  • Anna Dooley, retired Executive Director, Greenscape of Jacksonville
  • Donald Willeke, attorney and co-founder of Twin Cities Tree Trust
  • Donna Curtis, retired Executive Director, Shreveport Green
  • Edith Makra, representing OpenLands in Chicago and now with Mayors Caucus of Chicago
  • Lynn Morris McManus, retired founder of Baton Rouge Green
  • Marcia Bansley, retired founder of Trees Atlanta
  • Nancy Hughes, retired Executive Director of California Urban Forests Council
  • Nancy Wolf, retired Executive Director, Environmental Action Coalition-NYC and past Executive Director, New York State Urban Forestry Council
  • Ray Tretheway, retired founder of Sacramento Tree Foundation
  • Shannon Ramsay, retired founder of Trees Forever of Iowa

Also attending were those who supported the creation and success of the independent ACT:

  • Alice Ewen, former Executive Director of independent ACT and now Assistant Director for Cooperative Forestry, USDA Forest Service
  • Ed Macie, retired Urban Forestry Program Director, USDA Forest Service, Southern Region
  • Deborah Gangloff, retired Executive Vice President, American Forests
  • Dr. Greg McPherson, retired USDA Forest Service researcher and now president of Tree Davis in California
  • Jared Liu, former Director of Programs of independent ACT and now at Yale University
  • Phillip Rodbell, former Editor, Urban Forests Magazine and Secretary for the National Urban Forest Council at American Forests and now National Program Leader, Urban Forest Sustainability Research, USDA Forest Service
Headquarters Landscaping

Present-day ACT was represented by Dan Lambe, President of Arbor Day Foundation and Matt Spitsen, Program Development Manager of ACT.

As the founders reflected on their own histories and the activities of the early ACT, they were asked to highlight experiences that would help new local groups begin or continue their work successfully. The combined expertise captured in their remarks is unequalled.

Participants described the experience of the reunion eloquently.

Lynn Morris McManus said, “Being together once again was truly inspiring and I felt — as did everyone — that we recaptured the essence of the energy and enthusiasm that made the cause of urban forestry a reality….It was truly an honor to share our memories, our struggles and our accomplishments.”

According to Nancy Hughes, “The positive energy of the gathering continues. The unification of the original ACT and the present-day ACT demonstrates a vision fulfilled, with evident growth, strength and significant contribution of the greater good deep into the future.”

This was the event of a lifetime. Many thanks to New York State Urban Forestry Council for contributing with a travel grant that assisted in my attendance.

Nancy Wolf With Nancy Hughes, Retired ED of of CA Urban Forest Council