Engaging environmental justice communities in community forest management

MN-DNR’s Community Environmental Justice Coordinator, Molly Codding, will present resources for engaging historically disenfranchised communities in planning, implementation and evaluation of urban and community forest management activities.

Over the next four years, there will be a significant amount of funding available to communities to plant, maintain urban canopy as well as invest in arboriculture workforce development. Much of this funding is allocated to benefit environmental justice (EJ) communities (e.g. Black and Indigenous People of Color, or low-income communities). These are communities who experience disproportional environmental burdens and this funding is intended to shift systems to more meaningfully involve affected communities in decision-making, outreach and engagement, and evaluative processes.

As cities build their capacity to engage folks with experiences of environmental and social injustice, MN-DNR recognizes that some of our partners may need support defining EJ communities, identifying potential partner organizations that serve them, building new relationships, and engaging groups throughout the lifecycle of community forestry projects. Armed with real examples from cities across the state, Molly will create a space for dialogue, sharing ideas, and developing a community of practice. Together, urban and community forestry professionals and community members can demonstrate the need for sustained ongoing investment and the value of EJ partnerships in maintaining resilient canopies.

PDF of presentation: https://z.umn.edu/MnSTAC_environmenta...

Presented by: Molly Codding | Community Environmental Justice Coordinator | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Originally Presented on Thursday, November 16th, 2023

To learn more about MnSTAC
http://mnstac.org/

For more information about Urban & Community Forestry at the University of Minnesota
https://trees.umn.edu/

This production is made possible through funding from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources & the USDA Forest Service.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) CIVIL RIGHTS REGULATIONS AND POLICIES, THIS INSTITUTION IS PROHIBITED FROM DISCRIMINATING ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, AGE, DISABILITY, AND REPRISAL OR RETALIATION FOR PRIOR CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVITY. (NOT ALL PROHIBITED BASES APPLY TO ALL PROGRAMS.)