Urban Forestry Part 4: Preserving Nature and Empowering Urban Communities through City Forest Credit’s St. Elmo Preservation Project
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Empowering at-risk youth and fostering community-wide efforts to protect urban forests are both essential contributions to environmental justice and conservation. Engaging communities in protecting their own green spaces fosters a sense of ownership and community cohesion, promoting mental well-being, and relieving stress and anxiety. It also provides valuable educational opportunities for at-risk youth in environmental conservation, leadership, and teamwork.
The Benefits of Urban Forestry Conservation Efforts through the St. Elmo Preservation Project
Lookout Mountain, which spans across Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia, holds immense ecological importance and historical significance, in particular the St. Elmo Preservation Project. What started as a simple endeavor to connect the Guild-Hardy and St. Elmo trails has evolved into a community-wide effort to protect forested land at risk of urban development. The St. Elmo Preservation Project now works to protect forested land, expand recreational opportunities, and empower at-risk youth.
The 58-acre oak-pine forest, nestled between the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park and the historic St. Elmo neighborhood, plays a crucial role in maintaining habitat connectivity and providing essential wildlife habitats. This protected property is home to various species, including eastern box turtles, red-tailed hawks, black bears, and spotted salamanders, whose survival and well-being heavily depend on its conservation.
Lookout Mountain Conservancy’s Commitment to Community Engagement and Environmental Stewardship
Lookout Mountain Conservancy is committed to engaging urban youth with nature through its conservation efforts. In collaboration with The Howard School, a local high school, the Conservancy provides employment and scholarship opportunities to at-risk teens. Through internships, these young individuals learn about ecological conservation, develop valuable skills for their future, and actively contribute to the maintenance and restoration of forested lands. By preserving forested land, expanding recreational opportunities, and empowering at-risk youth, the project serves as a model for community engagement and environmental stewardship.
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City Forest Credits Leading Urban Forest Preservation in the United States
City Forest Credits is the national standard for greenhouse gas emission reduction and removal for tree projects in cities and towns. Developed by leading scientists, industry, and urban forest professionals, and recently endorsed by ICROA, City Forest Credits define the set of requirements that tree preservation, afforestation, and reforestation projects must follow in order to issue third-party verified carbon credits. The St. Elmo Preservation Project adheres to the City Forest Credit Standard, Version 2.0, ensuring rigorous verification and compliance with high-quality carbon offset standards.
“Giving these projects access to the carbon markets addresses three urban problems — continuing tree canopy loss in cities, a pervasive shortage of municipal funding for city forests, and inequitable distribution of city trees. ICROA’s endorsement validates the work CFC has done to develop these public interest credits with transparency and integrity.”
— Mark McPherson, Executive Director of City Forest Credits
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