The Tiny Trees program has successfully distributed 20,000 trees into Des Moines city in the short space of 3 years. Tiny Trees uses volunteers, and a unique drive up system, that has been fine-tuned over the last 3 iterations. The following presentation will provide a blueprint to which any city can replicate the same results. Many cities around the glove must contend with large weather events, growing and increasing the urban forest is a solid investment in mitigating many modern problems such cities face (water interception, heat islands, social equity…etc). The City of Des Moines is a flood and snow city, so increasing our urban canopy plays an integral part of our long term future proofing strategy. Using the local DNR nursery, an ordering system is set up where the public can order up to 5 trees for private use. As much as this program increases the urban canopy, it is also a huge educational program, bringing the urban forest into many citizens thoughts and lives. The city has managed to bridge a gap by providing 5 trees, for free, to any homeowner in the city. Normally, the DNR sells orders in minimum quantities of 100 trees. The citizen wins, and the city also wins due to increased canopy growth. Although this is run through the forestry division, Tiny Trees involves many divisions and is broadcast for many months prior. The feel-good effect of this program is massive, with citizens asking and anticipating the event many months in advance. The event also involves many volunteers, from nonprofits to large companies, with anywhere from 50 to 100 volunteers working throughout the event. It is hard to find a city run event that touches so many different groups, and provide green infrastructure at such a low price. This presentation with give an overview, some interesting stories, robust statistical numbers and the tools to start putting it all together should another city want to replicate Des Moines City Tiny Trees.
Contributor/Source
Shane McQuillan
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