Last updated: 3/28/24

Boston Tree Alliance Program

We provide grants and technical support to community-based organizations to plant and care for trees on privately-owned land.

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Update: The first round of fall tree planting grants is open through Friday June 28th, 2024.

The Boston Tree Alliance is a grant making and capacity building program. The purpose of this program is to support community-based organizations and residents with tree planting and care projects. The City has chosen Mass Audubon as the program’s fiscal sponsor. As the fiscal sponsor, Mass Audubon:

Convenes participating organizations to collaborate on tree planting, care, and public education activities.
Manages the grant process
Provides technical tree planting and care support to participating organizations and landowners

The Environment Department, in coordination with Parks and Recreation and the Office of Green Infrastructure, manages the Boston Tree Alliance.

Interested in joining the Boston Tree Alliance?

Fill out the interest form or email BostonTreeAlliance@massaudubon.org for more information.

GOALS OF THE TREE ALLIANCE

The Boston Tree Alliance is a long-term tree planting and care program to support growth of the urban forest on private land. This project aims to:

Reduce urban heat island impacts
Improve long-term public health outcomes
Increase access to trees with a focus on EJ communities through tree planting and maintenance
Reduce barriers to accessing the benefits of trees for residents
Build awareness and competency of tree planting and care best practices through public engagement and education
Advance the strategies identified in the Heat Plan and Urban Forest Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

What is the Boston Tree Alliance Program?

This program provides grants and technical support to community-based organizations. Its goal is to create grants and build capacity to plant and care for trees on privately-owned land, with a focus on increasing canopy in environmental justice neighborhoods and specifically areas that are documented heat islands.

How is the Boston Tree Alliance Program funded?

The City will use $1 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the first three years of the program.

What is the purpose of the Alliance of partnering organizations?

The program will form a coalition of nonprofit and community-based organizations, "the alliance." The Alliance will work together to increase and care for Boston's tree canopy on private land. Participating organizations may support:

The identification of planting locations in environmental justice neighborhoods
Tree planting and care projects
The creation of educational materials
Training on tree planting and care strategies
Tracking of health and progress of tree planting and care projects funded through this program

What is Mass Audubon’s role in the Boston Tree Alliance Program?

The City of Boston hired Mass Audubon to be the program’s fiscal agent and convene the Alliance. Mass Audubon will co-create the Alliance governance structure, grantmaking process, tree tracking system, and educational curricula with Alliance members. Mass Audubon will not take over tree planting activities already occurring in Boston

How many trees will the Alliance plant?

The program aims to plant several hundred trees over the next three years during the ARPA funding cycle. The Alliance will identify more funding sources to sustain the program long term.

Where will the Alliance focus funds and trees?

The Boston Tree Alliance Program's goal is to increase access to trees, address urban heat island impacts, and improve public health in environmental justice communities.

The Alliance will focus on areas where high extreme heat risk overlaps with social vulnerability.

All tree planting and maintenance will be on privately-owned land. The Alliance will identify eligible planting areas and projects across the entire City of Boston. The Urban Forest Plan’s Neighborhood Strategies data and the Heat Plan focus areas are initial scoping tools. The Alliance and feedback from Boston communities will inform tree-planting locations.

How do I, as a property owner, get a tree?

Fill out our interest form and select that you would like to plant trees on your property. Tree planting can only occur during the spring and fall. An urban forester will need to visit your property to determine tree species and suitable planting locations. You must allow urban foresters at least one annual property visit. These visits will ensure the tree survives.

How do I get involved?

There are many ways to engage with the Boston Tree Alliance Program. Everyone can fill out the interest form. We want to hear about the needs and interests of the stakeholders in the tree-care process.

Email to BostonTreeAlliance@massaudubon.org or complete this short interest form to ask questions and share your thoughts about the program. We want to hear if you're interested in learning more about and participating in the Alliance. By completing the form, you will join an email contact list to receive updates about the Alliance. Thanks for your patience while we work with the City and many partners to co-create a long lasting and inclusive program. We look forward to working with you!

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What is the next step?

The alliance will have its first convening in September 2023.

Boston Tree Alliance Meetings

We are in the process of forming a coalition of nonprofit and community based organizations, which is called “the Alliance”. Among other topics, this Alliance of partnering organizations will meet regularly to inform:

planting locations
the development of education resources about trees, and
the overall direction of the Boston Tree Alliance Program

Nonprofit and community-based organizations can share their interest in participating in or learning more about the Alliance.

The discussion questions and meeting summaries of each meeting will be posted here.

Events

Program Timeline Through 2024

This timeline shows events leading up to the development of the Boston Tree Alliance program and through the program’s first year from Fall 2022 to Winter 2024.