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WV Tree Minders: Putting the power of community tree care in the hands of West Virginians

Elizabeth Moss

Summary

The lack of proper tree care knowledge in West Virginia leads to reduced ecosystem benefits and increased financial, legal, and institutional risks for community forests. Limited state funding for community forestry further complicates efforts to deliver essential knowledge and provide for proper tree care. The West Virginia Tree Minders (WVTM) program was launched in 2021 with funding from a USDA NIFA 1890 Capacity Building Grant to address this. WVTM educates communities and homeowners on proper tree and municipal canopy care, enabling self-sufficient decision-making for community forestry.

The program offers online, self-paced tree care lessons, supplemented by workshops and technical support from WVTM partners: West Virginia State University Extension Service, West Virginia University Extension Service, and the WV Division of Forestry Urban & Community Forestry program. This approach maximizes the impact of in-person instruction despite limited staff and resources since workshop lectures can be accomplished online in the participants’ own time. WVTM also provided hands-on experience for three student interns, preparing them for careers in climate science through community tree inventory projects.

The program mitigates financial, legal, and ecological risks associated with improper tree care and offers a replicable model for other regions. Notable impacts include the Capitol City of Charleston’s pursuit of Tree City USA status from the Arbor Day Foundation for the first time (a big accomplishment for the WVDOF), the placement of two former interns in urban forestry careers, the establishment of an accredited teaching arboretum, and WVSUES’s recognition as a community forestry knowledge hub.

Details

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