In cities throughout Los Angeles, where extreme heat marks the summer seasons, trees are a key component in creating safer, more comfortable neighborhoods. That’s why we’re so happy to see citizens taking the initiative to fill in the gaps in spaces that need these trees.

Take Holmby- Westwood, for example, where citizen foresters took it upon themselves to organize with us and create the beautiful green spaces they deserve. Their incredible project will include 300 trees and will take up to 10 years to complete.

The effects of trees are multifold – they increase home values (A tree placed in front of a home will boost property values by an average of $7,000), mitigate the urban heat island effect, protect vulnerable populations from the sun, reduce utility bills, and much more.

It may come as a surprise that TreePeople doesn’t plant trees in neighborhoods. Instead, we engage communities and support the process of planting trees in neighborhoods. We provide tools, advice, and guidance, but at the end of the day, it’s up to the Angelenos who take on these projects to get them done.

We believe that community organizing is key to creating lasting change because there are too many trees in LA for one organization to care for; it’s up to locals of every neighborhood to maintain their homes and support the greater tree canopy.

To learn more about planting trees in your neighborhood and becoming a citizen forester, please visit treepeople.org/citizenforester.