You don't have to be a professional arborist to make a difference to the regional forest! If you care about the trees around you, whether they are in your back yard, on your parkway, or in your county forest preserve, you can leave a legacy. Read the suggestions below for ways to impact the urban forest and and its residents.
Check out previous CRTI newsletters and eblast and get on the mailing list.
Nominate a community, individual, or organization for a CRTI Urban Forestry Award. See our past winners here.
Advocate for trees. Report concerns about community trees to a local forester; talk to your neighbors, friends, and families about trees; spread the word about CRTI programs and mission. Spreading your knowledge and passion can lead to more stewardship around you!
Donate to CRTI. Funds donated to CRTI will support myriad programs that support and educate land owners and managers as well as programs that improve regional species and age diversity by putting the right tree in the right place with the right care. Help us make a difference!
Care for the trees around you. Mature trees perform the bulk of ecosystem services. Keeping your parkway, backyard, and neighborhood trees mulched and watered will help them become established and grow into healthy, mature trees.
Become a volunteer. Learn more about the Community Tree Champions program here.
Get help for the trees around you. Professional arborists can help you improve the health of your trees with regular pruning, advice on mulching, and assessments of health. You can also call The Morton Arboretum Plant Health Clinic with plant questions or send plant specimens to the University of Illinois Plant Clinic to have them diagnosed.
Get recognized for effort in your own backyard. Register your yard with Conservation@Home, Conservation@Work, or Conservation@School programs with The Conservation Foundation in DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will Counties, Openlands in Lake County, and Barrington Area Conservation Trust in Barringto area, and Forest Preserves of Cook County/ University of Illinois Extension in Cook County.
Join the Community Tree Network.
Join a Work Group.
Send us pictures and stories of you with your trees!
There are many ways to get involved with the Chicago Region Trees Initiative. Whether you would like to join a work group, attend a workshop, and make a donation, we have opportunities for everyone.
