The City’s Department of Public Works has secured over $100,000 in Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant funding from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) to research strategies to strengthen the resiliency of its urban forestry network, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn announced. 

The MVP Action Grant will be utilized to fund an Urban Forest Vulnerability Assessment for the City of Medford. Through this assessment, information will be gathered to help understand the effects that climate change will have on the City’s urban forest. By understanding the vulnerabilities Medford’s tree canopy will face, the City will be able to implement maintenance strategies and identify opportunities for growth. The project is expected to be completed by early summer 2024.

“We need to have as much data and information as possible to continue to develop dynamic long-term strategies for our urban forest to successfully flourish and grow despite the growing challenges caused by climate change,” said Mayor Lungo-Koehn. “This Vulnerability Assessment will be essential to strengthening our tree system as we plan for the changing climate of the future. Thank you to our DPW Commissioner Tim McGivern and our Tree Warden Aggie Tuden for their work to secure this important funding.” 

“With our climate changing, there are multiple environmental risk factors that may arise like extreme weather events, heat and drought, and sea level rise that can make our tree canopy vulnerable,” said Aggie Tuden, Tree Warden. “This assessment will help us gain a clearer picture of how we can strengthen our urban forest and develop a successful plan for the future.” 

Earlier this year, the City released a GIS Map of tree plantings from 2022 which illustrated its commitment to expanding Medford's forest and canopy management. The map is available on the City’s website at www.medfordma.org/departments/forestry While the plantings in 2022 represent a broad cross section of the community, it is important to note that some areas were already identified and addressed with plantings in previous years or already have robust tree cover and didn't require additional trees this year. 

Additionally, if you’re interested in helping the City water and maintain public trees, you can sign up for the ‘Adopt a Tree’ Program. Participants are encouraged to care for public trees throughout the City by filling slow-release watering bags each week or every other week if there is significant rain. You can sign up for the program at https://www.treesmedford.org/adopts. 

For more information on the City’s tree strategy and procedures, visit www.medfordma.org/departments/forestry.