At Hispanic Access, we believe that cultural heritage and faith should be central to urban forestry, not only for community engagement but also as part of a long-term strategy to diversify the field. Urban forestry can play a key role in neighborhood revitalization and economic development, offering solutions that intertwine environmental sustainability with cultural significance.
The Problem
Urban forestry is gaining attention due to rising heat and the availability of new research and technology. Studies highlight "tree inequity" in many cities, with Latino-majority neighborhoods often being significantly hotter due to fewer trees. For example, in Los Angeles, Latino neighborhoods can be 6.7 degrees hotter than others. Despite Latinos being 26.6% of forest and conservation workers, there is still a lack of representation in planning and decision-making roles within the forestry sector.
This data reflects a larger issue: a deficit mindset that excludes cultural and heritage considerations from the conversation. Economic development initiatives, often without considering the cultural impact of trees, can lead to gentrification, displacing Latino communities and erasing their tangible and intangible heritage.
The Opportunity
Latinos are the fastest-growing demographic in the U.S., with deep concerns about the climate crisis. While there are still barriers to full participation in forestry, this demographic’s connection to land and generational ownership presents a huge opportunity. Collaboration with Latino communities in urban forestry can address climate change and create economic opportunities.
Efforts are already underway. Over a decade ago, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) began a collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service to engage Hispanic communities with urban forests. The results show that while there are linguistic and cultural challenges, recent efforts to create culturally relevant marketing tools and programs have begun to bridge the gap.
The Solution
Faith and heritage must be at the heart of urban forestry discussions. For Latinos, trees and green spaces hold spiritual and familial significance rooted in Indigenous traditions. Hispanic Access Foundation has seen success with programs like Latino Conservation Week (LCW), which connects Latino communities to conservation efforts through cultural engagement. LCW now organizes over 750 events nationwide.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, Hispanic Access Foundation is launching a new initiative, in partnership with the Forest Service, to fund urban forestry efforts led by faith-based, Indigenous, and community organizations. This will further diversify and strengthen urban forestry in a culturally meaningful way.
Urban trees offer numerous benefits—absorbing carbon dioxide, reducing extreme heat, improving health, and cutting energy bills. By embracing an intersectional approach that includes faith and culture, we can make urban forestry a vital pathway for economic and environmental resilience, ensuring that Latino communities are part of this green future.
Funding for the project or publication was made possible by a grant from the USDA Forest Service's Inflation Reduction Act Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program.
Written by Amaris Alanis Ribeiro, Forestry Director.