A New Mexico research program will assess the health of seedlings to understand which trees will be most resilient to climate risks.
In an article for Route Fifty, Kaitlyn Levinson reminds readers that planting trees is only part of the equation when it comes to boosting urban tree canopies, creating shade, and cooling city sidewalks.
Urban trees also need to be resilient to weather, climate risks, and other factors for the long term. A new program at New Mexico’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), the Climate Ready Trees Program, “aims to help officials identify which tree types will most likely withstand New Mexico’s changing climate so they can be incorporated into future urban landscapes.”
The program will use long-range data gained from tree seedlings to understand which trees fare best in varying local conditions. The seedlings can be adopted by schools, libraries, and other institutions. “Participants are required to maintain the trees on their properties in demonstration gardens and submit an annual tree performance survey to the Forestry Division so officials can track the tree growth process.”
FULL STORY: Tree nurseries sprout up as a climate mitigation strategy
Improving South Los Angeles Through Strategic Tree Planting
The University of Southern California Urban Trees Initiative is planting 250 trees in South L.A. neighborhoods to improve shade, combat climate change, and enhance community well-being through collaboration and data-driven approaches.
The Economic Value of Street Trees
Far from just providing shade and improving air quality, trees can also contribute to more resilient roads, lower energy costs, and reduced flood risk.
Planting for the Future: The Urban Trees of Tomorrow
How urban forest managers are preparing urban tree canopies for tomorrow’s climates.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research