Award Categories & Criteria

Everyday Hero Award Awarded to an individual with outstanding community service who has demonstrated leadership in a project or organization and has shown exceptional dedication to improving California’s urban forests. Excellence in Education Award Awarded to an individual, organization, or agency that has done the most in the past year to advance Urban Forestry Education in California. Recipient must have shown innovation and leadership in creating or improving educational opportunities for either individuals or organizations. This should be demonstrated through educational materials, workshops, programs, videos, public awareness programs, etc. S.O.S. – Save Our Shade! Awarded to an organization or community that demonstrates creative solutions toward caring for the urban tree canopy in relation to the various threats our trees face – preserving the many benefits & services delivered by the community’s trees. Best Program Awarded to the municipality, community, or business that has shown the most improvement in the past year or has demonstrated over a period of several years’ exceptional leadership, innovation, growth, and, community involvement in creating a consistent and well-managed urban forest. Best Project Awarded to an organization or community which completed an urban forestry project that: • Addressed two or more environmental or public safety issues • Involved the community and/or other organizations or agencies • Significantly enhanced the urban forest and livability of the community Community Building with Trees Award Awarded to a corporation, agency or elected official whose mission is not urban forestry related but has demonstrated a significant and noteworthy level of contribution to a community, region, or the State of California utilizing urban forestry or green infrastructure programs to contribute to and enhance quality of life. Designing with Trees: Public Spaces Awarded to landscape designers, architects or town planners, the new ‘Designing with Trees’ category awards projects that utilize the benefits of trees in a creating public spaces. Public spaces are those open to the public for recreation, transportation, retail or commercial activity.