Urban Connections Connecting citizens to the land Bridging the gap between our National Forests and our urban constituents.

Transcription

1 Urban Connections Bridges The Gap Urban Connections Connecting citizens to the land Bridging the gap between our National Forests and our urban constituents.

2 Vision and Mission Vision Statement Urban residents in five of the country s largest metropolitan areas are engaged in caring for and enjoying the nation s forests (local parks, woodlands, and National Forests and Grasslands). Mission Statement To grow and foster mutual relationships that connects urban residents and the Forest Service through the use and conservation of forests and green spaces

3 Planning for Performance Urban Connections: Why it Matters? Because urban residents remain relevant to current and future generations of Americans who depend on the Nation s forests and grasslands. Urban Constituents Values: Recreation, Ecology Very Important, and want the environment to be protected. Research by Kearns & West 3

4 Roles and Responsibilities A steering team will oversee joint urban outreach efforts. The team consists of the following positions: o Eastern Region: - Director of Public and Government Relations - Forest Supervisors o Northeastern Area: - Field representative of Field Office - Manager Urban and Community Forestry Program o Research Units: - Assistant Director / Project Leader The role of the Steering Team is to set overall program guidance, monitor progress, and facilitate decisions about where to focus efforts, the level of resources to commit, and ways to achieve outcomes. The Urban Outreach Program Manager will manage the team process for the Steering Team and participate in all meetings and deliberations.

5 Goals and Objectives Goal 1. Stewardship of the Nation s Forest Objective 1.1 Promote sustainable forest management and enhance the capacity of forests to provide public benefits. Goal 2. Partnerships with Communities Objective 2.1 Create long-term partnerships with organizations that will enhance understanding of the work of the forest service. Goal 3. Urban Resident Information & Involvement Objective 3.1 Motivate urban opinion leaders, news media, and other information outlets in UC cities to highlight, share, and distribute FS information and messages about natural resources. Goal 4. Forest Service's Organizational Effectiveness Objective 4.1 Increase understanding of urban needs and agency diversity.

6 ON The Ground Boston Program Manager Jesse Scott Milwaukee Program Manager Jean Claassen Detroit Program Manager Lisa Perez Urban Connections Program Manager & Chicago Daryl Pridgen & UC Minneapolis / St Paul Program Manager Teri Heyer theyer@fs.fed.us

7 Diversity Use Vagabond Model CFSEM (2004-5) Rouge River Corridor 6 Sessions Target Range 6 to 12 Years Classroom Sessions ACCESS USFS Centennial Create Learning for THF Encourage Outdoor Activity for Children Appreciate & Enjoy Outdoors Family Opportunity THF Create New Outdoor Public Programs Webelo 6th Grade Targeted Teaching Groups Weekend Patch Programs "Sleeping Under Stars" GV Parade Roaming Horseback Meet the Ranger Seasonal Girl Scouts Boy Scouts All Summer Camps Forest Ranger Penny Pines CSO Program Objectives Scouts "Hiking Through History" "Oxbow Island Adventure" Daily Visitors Roaming Horseback Meet the Ranger Delayed Daily Guests Discovery Camps 6th Grade Focus The Great Outdoors Program Restoration Network of Relationships 2 Forest Ranger Discovery Camps Because of Michigan DNR Penny Pines Oxbow Island Prototype Development 3 Continuing Programs Educational Objectives The USFS & THF Project Partnership 2/19/ v11 1 Environmental Objectives 4 Future USFS & THF Opportunities Restore Wetlands Restore Habitat Provide Controlled Access Return Rouge Routing Allow Natural Growth Provide Un-disturbed Nesting Recreate Period CCC Camp Expand Trail System Develop Urban Nursery Establish Greenhouse Laboratories Pedestrian Bridge to Oxbow Public Market for Tree Distribution Continue to Explore GV Visitors Urban Groups Special Camping Opportunity Train Guest View Diversity Un-tended Site Disadvantaged Platform Scouts Members Public Use Youth Camps Forest Stewardship Programming Integration of Resources Project Awareness Ranger Camp Group Access Guest Access 7 Public Mission Expertise

8 Impacts Gross number of urban individuals reached through Urban Connections programs 806, Key partnership agreements Number of Twitter followers Forest Service information materials distributed 15,488 Urban Connections multiplied its ability to leverage funds to care for the land and serve people in (urban) communities with key volunteer and partnership agreement opportunities with nontraditional partners and underserved audiences o Volunteer hours of 2266 and costs value savings to the agency $50,058 o Cooperator in kind costs $343,578 o Cooperator non cash contributions $1,453,477 o Cooperator total contributions - $1,797,055 o Urban Connections costs contributions - $197,506 o Shared economic impact to our program and its communities of $2,196,308 In addition Selected in Massachusetts and Minnesota for establishing more kids In the Woods programs. Awarded a 2012 CHILDREN'S FOREST GRANT. On National Public Lands Day September 2013, the grand opening of the Milwaukee Urban Ecology Center s Rotary Centennial Arboretum, which has been designated as a USFS Children s Forest. Awarded National Smokey Bear Award with Betty Brinn Children s Museum of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

9

10

11 1905 Historic Ranger present at the Entry to Greenfield Village, visited with Village Summer Camps and engaged many of the 200,000 + summer visitors.

12 Street Tree Planting Project Chelsea, MA MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Urban Ecology Institute, City of Chelsea Dept. of Public Works

13 The Social Audit - Values the Voice of Community to Tell the Story Social media Twitter Facebook Blogs YouTube LinkedIn Others sources Websites Community media Newsletter Radio interviews Contact Person

14 Demonstrated great cooperation Forest Service and DNRs, within the three branches of FS, APHIS, state agriculture depts. Developed public education plans don t move firewood campaigns Identification efforts, remediation activities, biological control programs, etc. Durham field office studied the effectiveness of don t move firewood messaging. There are parallels to what happened with EAB. We all have efforts in the urban environments: DNRs reaching out to urban audiences, S&PF, research, state foresters. All are making efforts independently, but we can get more traction if we work together.

15 Future Trends Site Selection Model Maps the social and site conditions that may indicate the need for additional tree cover Attributes considered: Population Density Median Income Crime Canopy Density Impervious Density Urban Ecology Project District Road Buffer Zoning Areas highlighted in red met the highest number of criteria.

16 Future Trends Frogtown Pop-Up Park/Nursery Trees planted in neighborhood in fall * Tree planting as mitigating factor for climate change

17 Forum to Discuss the Perspectives Research and Solutions Environmental Justice Environmental Education Green jobs, Forest Service careers Hands-on action workshops St. Paul, Minnesota

18 Program Sustainability Vision of Tomorrow Areas of Focus Strategic plan implementation Strategic plan companion paper external audiences All steering team meeting-focus on commonalities, lessons learned, best efficient practices Develop urban stewardship strategy among all 3 Forest Service branches Develop 5 year plan for each city Partnerships/agreements,who, why, value to who Tell the Story 2013 Annual accomplishment report W/ core team Revaluate, identify city needs, and share or build key inventory networks that would be helpful to all branches and position NA to provide more grants on the ground effectively. The Hill- package for the forests Reinforcing Communications: feature stories, partnership highlights, USDA blogs and emerging issues