Virginia has developed two, successful urban tree citizen volunteer programs, called Tree Stewards. The Virginia Extension Master Gardener (MG) Tree Steward program offers advanced training to MG volunteers, including education on health, assessment, selection and care of urban trees and forests. Extension Agents work closely with volunteers to facilitate community education and other activities, such as tree mapping. A second Tree Steward program operates under the non-profit Virginia Trees. Similarly, volunteers provide community education and work directly with local jurisdictions to assist with tree planting and street tree pruning. During this webinar, participants will learn how Extension Agents can work with volunteers to increase and maintain urban tree canopy using the successful Tree Steward programs as an example. Online resources available for both MG and Trees Virginia Tree Stewards will be shared.
