Barriers to resident participation in tree-planting initiatives across a metropolitan area

Abstract

Past research on barriers to the development and implementation of green infrastructure (GI) has examined the experiences of policy makers and community leaders, with a focus on planting or installing GI. However, many of these programs rely on participation from the public — especially residents — who often steward GI over the long-term on both public and private lands. To better understand the barriers experienced by primary stewards of GI, we conducted 93 intercept interviews with residents spanning four neighborhoods in the City of Philadelphia and in four nearby suburban municipalities with active TPIs. Selected neighborhoods and towns included areas with varied canopy cover and economically and racially diverse communities. We found that residents viewed trees as a neighborhood asset, yet they also identified multiple categories of barriers across the tree lifecycle, including physical, maintenance, aesthetic, knowledge, and environmental issues. Our study also reveals the convergence and divergence of barriers experienced across city and suburban neighborhoods based on contextual factors. Our results suggest that barriers to participation in TPIs are multi-dimensional, context-specific, and endure across the lifecycle of GI. Long-term maintenance concerns relate to tree care that is outside the purview of TPIs led by non-profit organizations. Advancing equitable urban forestry that reaches neighborhoods with the greatest need requires recognition and respect of resident and community experiences, needs, and land use priorities, as well as improved institutional collaboration.