To achieve this purpose, Urban Nature prioritizes nature-based solutions and takes a collaborative and systems-oriented approach to some of our most pressing challenges:
Heat. Metro Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the country, is getting hotter with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees sooner in the year and for longer periods of time. A well-treed neighborhood can cool radiant temperatures 20 degrees or more. By placing the right trees in the right places – for people and for the trees – we can protect people from extreme heat and enhance overall well-being.
Labor Needs. To grow and sustain trees for wide-scale shade in high heat and low water conditions, we need to expand a skilled urban nature workforce.Industry partners across all sectors of urban forestry report that a shortage of skilled laborers makes it difficult to expand, monitor, and sustain a thriving urban tree canopy at the scale needed to mitigate effects of extreme heat.
Technical Skills. To sustain urban shade, we need workers with technical know-how related to growing and maintaining trees in our desert urban environment for the long-term health of our urban tree canopy. We need skilled workers to protect the trees that protect us.
Hands-on Training. While some information is best conveyed through classroom learning, hands-on learning with seasoned industry experts is critical to building the professional workforce we need for the long-term health of the trees that keep us safe in desert heat.
Our Urban Nature collaborative takes up these challenges, prioritizing shade where it’s most needed and bringing the social, economic, and environmental benefits of trees to communities most impacted by extreme heat.
Urban Nature, led by Arizona State University’s Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service — in partnership with community-based organizations, industry partners, national organizations, and several ASU departments — works directly with Valley residents to co-create Neighborhood Tree Action Plans while expanding pathways into skilled jobs to grow and sustain our urban tree canopy. Our Urban Nature program is a community trade school, offering expert instruction, field training, hands-on experiences, industry-standard assessments, internship opportunities, and real pathways for folks interested in starting rewarding careers or launching and scaling thriving businesses across all urban forestry sectors to support the full life cycle of tree.
“We are thrilled to partner with ASU on this transformative initiative,” said Lora Martens, Manager of the City of Phoenix Urban Tree Program. “We believe that involving the community in tree planning is essential to cultivate not only a healthy urban forest, but also a stronger sense of belonging and stewardship among residents.”
In Maricopa County, where 68% of Arizona residents live, extreme heat is happening more often and staying longer, contributing to more heat-related distress and illness, more heat-related emergency room visits, and more heat-related deaths.
Urban Nature prioritizes Shade for ALL and focuses the social, economic and environmental benefits in communities most impacted by heat.
ASU Core Team
Community Workshops + Tree Action Plans
Community Trade School | Workforce Development
Community Trade School | Venture Development
Urban Nature Nursery
Program Evaluation
Strategic Communication and Marketing
Alumni
Urban Nature, led by Arizona State University’s Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service — in partnership with community-based organizations, industry partners, national organizations, and several ASU departments — works to scale nature-based urban shade solutions, sustain a community trade school and enterprise hub, and advance place-based applied urban forestry research.