Events & News
World Forum on Urban Forests Recognizes RMA
Restore Mass Ave’s Tree Program Wins Global Recognition
“Forest expansion in urban areas is one of humanity’s greatest challenges. Urban forests are the key allies in the fight against climate change.”
— World Forum on Urban Forests Manifesto
The World Forum on Urban Forests (WFUF) aims to help cities world-wide expand urban forests for a more livable and sustainable future. The 2nd forum, held in Washington DC, Oct. 16-20, 2023, was organized by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, Arbor Day Foundation, Washington DC District of Transportation, Smithsonian Gardens, US Forest Service, and others. Hundreds of experts from around the world attended.
A key WFUF objective is support of local community initiatives to increase forest. RMA was honored to be recognized by the WFUF for our program in which tree canopy along Embassy Row expanded more than 13% between 2006 and 2015.
We were invited to choose embassies along Massachusetts Avenue to receive gifts of new trees from the Urban Forestry Division (UFD) of DDOT. We chose five embassies with sites ready for historic-type trees, and each embassy’s record of care for trees and greenspace. We made World Forum Tree Awards to these and two other embassies, Lesotho and Estonia, that care for major trees critical to DC’s urban forest.
RMA Awards Ceremony
Deborah Shapley, Founder and President of RMA, and RMA Associate Charmine Osore presented our World Forum Tree Award certificates to the seven embassies and the eighth winner, the US Department of State Office of Foreign Missions. The presentations followed Ms. Shapley’s remarks. She told why RMA’s three-point program adds to urban forest on our busy street and of the fun of introducing diplomats to tree planting and care.
“ Today is a big moment for our little volunteer group…. Now for the first time, RMA’s tiny projects here are connected to the challenge facing cities all over the world to grow many more mature trees.”
— Deborah Shapley, RMA President,
Remarks at WFUF Ceremony Oct 17, 2023
Embassy of Italy Celebration
Our World Forum Awards ceremony was part of a Celebration hosted by the Embassy of Italy. A pair of Award Trees—’Appalachian Mist’ dogwoods—were planted in the embassy garden.
Italian Ambassador Mariangela Zappia and the Embassy staff were wonderful hosts. In the light-filled atrium diplomatic delegations and DC urban foresters mingled with leaders of Arbor Day Foundation, US Forest Service, Smithsonian Institution Garden, International Society of Arboriculture, Politecnico di Milano, Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, FAO, and Stefano Boeri Architetti.
Restore Mass Ave Teamwork
Our team figured out the planting sites with Urban Forestry Division foresters and the embassies. The UFD set the new trees in place ahead of receiving their final shovelfuls of soil on WFUF Celebration Day. Some of the RMA team engaged in the project are below with a few photos from our VIP visits afterwards to the Lesotho, Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire embassies. On behalf of the US State Department OFM chief Clifton Seagroves was especially pleased to call on the Ambassadors.
Photos of the Award Tree plantings and the Embassy of Cameroon reception will be posted on Our Green Community. The Italian Embassy Celebration was reported by ANSA news service. See also the Business Wire item about Stefano Boeri Architetti. More about WFUF and the Washington DC conference is at the WFUF 2023 page.
Google Photo Album – World Forum on Urban Forests – October 17
Open our Google Photo Album to view and download photos of the World Forum October 17 events by Ari Joel Golub. In re-use, please credit Ari Golub/RMA.
Remarks to Urban Forestry Advisory Council Nov 17
The interagency Urban Forestry Advisory Council’s quarterly meeting November 17 heard a brief report from Urban Forestry Division head Earl Eutsler and RMA President Deborah Shapley. She shared photos of the UFD-RMA site selection, planting and a few from the Celebration at the Italian Embassy. She thanked Mr. Eutsler and UFD for the opportunity to showcase RMA’s successful model program to an international audience.