Policy & Advocacy

Facilitating policies that support nature-based solutions.

TreePeople works from the policy level to the grassroots level to facilitate science-based policies, incentives, and applicable demonstration programs to transform Southern California utilizing nature-based solutions.

In 2024 Alone...

$1.25 Billion

in LAUSD bond funds secured to expand Green Schoolyards

$450 million

in state funds secured to address Extreme Heat

$2 million

in TreePeople priority projects protected from State budget freeze

TreePeople x Coalitions

TreePeople partners with over 100 nonprofits at the state, federal and local level to uplift underserved communities and nature-based solutions through sixteen coalitions coalesced around sustainable funding, green schoolyards, outdoor access, climate resilience and progressive public policy. Our work within these collaboratives ensure urban forests – and the communities they serve – are not left behind.

click here to learn about our work with water

Updates

“Good” Plants vs. “Bad” Plants: unpacking the invasive species discourse

Native, non-native, and invasive. If you’re passionate about plants, you’ve probably heard these terms thrown around a lot. They’re used to describe the origins of different species, and often the connotation is that native plants are “good,” while other plants are “bad” or unwanted, and should be removed.  But is this always true? Can plants…

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Pruning 101: the TreePeople guide to proper tree pruning

If you’re a homeowner, a landscaping professional, or someone who just cares a lot about the health of your local trees, you’re probably familiar with the practice of pruning.  In its simplest form, pruning involves removing branches from a tree for a specific purpose. But how often should you be doing this? Which branches should…

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How TreePeople is Greening Schoolyards

In the preface to Claire Latané’s Schools That Heal, she reminds us that “It is hard to make healthy schools. Even in neighborhoods that have plenty of resources, most school environments fall short of supporting students’ mental and physical health and well-being.” TreePeople’s School Greening initiative aims to collaborate with school communities to reimagine how…

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