Yujuan Chen, TreePeople’s Senior Manager of Urban Forestry Policy, was sworn in December 19 to serve on the Los Angeles Community Forest Advisory Committee representing City Council District 2. 

The committee works with the city to promote and improve the urban forest and is made up of city employees as well as community representatives from each council district. Chen was nominated by Councilmember Paul Krekorian and appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti. 

“I am honored to represent Council District 2 at the Community Forest Advisory Committee,” Chen said. “and I believe LA’s urban forest can play an important role in building climate resilience, vibrant cities, and quality of life for all.” 

Prior to joining TreePeople, Yujuan held a range of positions with the Urban Forest Ecosystems Lab at Virginia Tech, the Urban and Peri-urban Forestry Program at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Rome, Italy, and the Community Forestry Program at New Jersey State Forestry Services. Originally from Bozhou, China, she holds a B.S. degree in Horticulture from Beijing Forestry University, an M.S. degree in Urban Forestry from the Chinese Academy of Forestry, and a Ph.D. in Urban Forestry from Virginia Tech.

“Cities like Los Angeles are at the front lines of the climate crisis and trees could be part of  the solution,” Chen said. “I am excited to work with the City, our communities, and fellow Angelenos at both policy and community levels to build a greener, healthier, and more climate-resilient future.”