HOW TO HELP: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
Act local!
Write letters to your local elected officials. We have some great talking points and examples here.
Champion urban forestry
Spread the word
Find cover photos, posts and pictures to help raise awareness by sharing on social media.
ELEVATOR SPEECH
Here are a series of elevator speeches you can use when mcalling or meeting with decision makers.
15 seconds
Can you imagine a great neighborhood without trees? We can’t, and yet when decisions are being made about what’s best for our community to thrive, the value provided by our trees, parks and green spaces is often overlooked.
It is vital that more people see that investing in these basic resources not only helps create healthy and sustainable neighborhoods, we get back much more than we put in. “Trees Are Essential!”
30 seconds
Can you imagine a great neighborhood without trees? It’s a simple truth that great neighborhoods have character, rooted in the trees, parks and green spaces that help make the place we live feel like home.
Unfortunately, when decisions are being made about what’s best for our community to thrive, the true value provided by these basic resources—and the return on the investment we make in them—is often overlooked.
Californians deserve to know that investing in our trees, parks and green spaces not only helps create great neighborhoods, we get back much more than we put in. “Trees Are Essential!”
With your help we can make sure we’re investing in these basic resources so that our residents and communities thrive, and the place we live feels even more like home.
60 seconds
When you stop and think about it, what makes a neighborhood great? Can you imagine a great neighborhood without trees? It’s a simple truth that great neighborhoods have character, rooted in the trees, parks and green spaces that help make the place we live feel like home. “Trees Are Essential!”
Unfortunately, when decisions are being made about what’s best for our community to thrive, the true value provided by these basic resources—and the return on the investment we make in them—is often overlooked. And today, across California, we’re seeing a public health impacted budget crisis lead to short-term cost-saving decisions that translate into long lasting damage to our neighborhood’s best and most cost-efficient investments.
Californians deserve to know that investing in our trees, parks and green spaces not only helps create great neighborhoods, we get back much more than we put in.
Sometimes, the best solutions don’t have to be new, complicated or expensive. Once people see what can grow when we simply Invest From the Ground Up, we can begin making decisions that help our residents and communities thrive, and the place we live feel even more like home.
WRITE LETTERS TO ELECTED OFFICIALS
You can use this sample email, letter or fax to add your voice to supporting urban forestry with decision makers.
Date
Name
Title
Address line 1
Address line 2
RE: Urban Nature for Human Health – Budget Cuts During the COVID-19 Emergency
Dear [First Name],
I have a question for you: What makes a neighborhood great? Yes, it’s the great houses, strong businesses and good schools, but can you imagine a great neighborhood without trees?
{INSERT PERSONAL STATEMENT HERE –WHO ARE YOU? WHY WILL THIS ELECTED OFFCIAL PAY ATTENTION TO YOU?}
The health advantages derived by caring for our city trees and green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic are vitally important – supplying our communities and residents with all of the associated quality of life benefits which are essential for livable and sustainable communities.
Unfortunately, the true value trees, parks and green spaces provide is often overlooked and especially in light of ongoing state and local budget cuts, where short-term cost-saving decisions take precedent and lead to long-lasting damage to our neighborhood’s best and most cost-efficient investments.
WE REQUEST YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE ADDRESSING THIS URGENT MATTER.
Urban Nature, Urban & Community Forestry address:
· physical and mental health
· active living
· reduce stress
· cleaner air and water
· social well-being, safer neighborhoods
Adding up to healthy and sustainable communities!
With your help, we can make sure the right decisions are made so that our community’s and resident’s health is addressed in these sustainable methods.
In this time of uncertainty when public health is negatively impacted, we must come together and do something as simple as investing in the care and management of our neighborhood trees, parks and green spaces which will benefit everyone.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your response.
Your Name
Organization’s Name
Contact Information
