Woodchucks Urban Timberwerks Pitching Sustainable Urban Wood Management to the Public
By Kathryn B. Reis, Randolph County Soil and Water Conservation District, Environmental Educator
Although we know what “urban wood” means and what “urban wood upcycling” looks like, the general public does not. I am always on the lookout for new ways to pitch the importance of sustainable urban wood use to people outside my field of natural resource management, especially municipal leaders and homeowners. Below is a snapshot of my latest finds so that you can share them with members of the public in your community, too!
What is the life cycle of an urban forest?
🌱 Thoughtful selection of which tree to plant in a specific location.
🪓 Regular maintenance and monitoring to immediately address storm damage, disease/insect infestation, inadequate water access, fire susceptibility, etc.
📝 Planning how to repurpose as much of the tree as possible BEFORE the tree dies.
Learn more about sustainable urban forest management, including how to honor the lives of urban trees post removal, at Lumbercycle (a California based company).
Why create a circular economy for urban wood?
Do you struggle to impress upon others why trees should be turned into a memorable keepsake or unique construction material? Then read this Tree City USA Bulletin from The Arbor Foundation. Published in 2019, it espouses why tree boards, individuals, and others should “reduce pressure on landfills, contribute to the economic health of green industries, and recognize the beauty and benefits of wood that can continue beyond the life of living trees.”
Read the bulletin to see how it is the perfect handout for municipal and business leaders and homeowners. It highlights the values of partnerships as well as the diverse products that can be fabricated with urban wood, from functional art to wood pellets.
How can urban wood use benefit the economy?
Established in 1985, the Corps Network is an organization dedicated to helping young adults and veterans engage in “service projects that address local conservation and community needs.” Through these service projects, the participants acquire work skills that are in high demand while receiving educational and mentoring assistance to improve their chances of landing a secure job. Every year the Corps Network recognizes a Corps team that executed exceptional work.
In 2024, the Project of the Year Award was bestowed upon the Conservation Corps of Long Beach in California. Identified as “The Urban Wood: A Passageway to a Meaningful Career,” this project was jumpstarted by a $1 million grant from CAL FIRE and relied on the leadership support of the City of Long Beach, Public Works, and West Coast Arborists (a UWN member). Over 70 individuals (Corps members) removed 1,000 trees that were either dead, dying, or disease-inflicted in select areas flagged as “environmentally sensitive.” Additionally, the Corps members planted 2,000 trees in the tree removal site and learned how to convert the urban wood biomass into products that benefit the community.
Click here to learn more about this project and The Corps Network. View the video description at this link. How can you replicate this project in your own community?
What does urban wood marketing currently look like?
If you enjoy reading research on urban wood utilization, then read the 2020 report entitled, “The case for urban and reclaimed wood in the circular economy.”
Researchers Anna R Pitti (University of Minnesota), Omar Espinoza (University of Minnesota), and Robert Smith (Virginia Tech University) interviewed 39 people across 6 states to learn (1) the extent to which local policies generate communal support for urban wood upcycling and guide the economic process and (2) the types of marketing strategies the interviewees employ. Additionally, Pitti et al. (2020) identified the strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) for local urban wood circular economies. The following table summarizes their SWOT Analysis.
