We are guided by an afforestation plan that prioritizes the care and maintenance of newly planted trees until they reach maturity, ensuring a high survival rate. As a growing environmental charity, we depend on dedicated community stewards to care and sustain new urban forests until they are fully established.
What does stewardship with FCF look like?
Participate in tree care events
Participate in volunteer group events led by the Forêt Capitale Forest team. Our group demonstrations will provide you with practical tips to nurture young urban forests.
Visit sites on your own time and submit a tree care report
When you visit a tree site, we invite you to submit a tree care report to provide us up-to-date information on the health of the trees. This information provides us meaningful data that guides our maintenance decisions to support the maturation of young urban forests.
Learn new skills through the Forest Stewardship Service
Our new Forest Stewardship Service will inspire new and existing volunteers to become urban forest stewards. We provide training through skill-building demonstrations and workshops on proper planting, tree care, seed collection techniques…and more! In recognition of your commitment, you can earn digital badges as you participate.
What tree care activities and interventions do volunteers actually perform?
Watering
Young forests are vulnerable to transplant shock and heat stress. Watering is essential during the first few years of establishment to keep the root system and surrounding soil moist. During periods of extreme heat and drought, the demand for water increases even more. Our volunteer stewards help water trees and watch for signs of heat stress and drought.
Mulching
Applying mulch to the base of the tree is a useful strategy to retain moisture in the soil surrounding the root system, limit the growth of competing weeds and grass, and insulate the root system from temperature fluctuations. Stewards ensure a sufficient layer of mulch is applied in a ring around planted trees, while ensuring it is not touching the stem to prevent rotting.
Weeding
One of our most common tree care activities is removing surrounding weeds and grass that compete with trees for nutrients, water and sunlight. While mulching initially suppresses the growth of weeds and grasses, new and regrown plants may outcompete small trees 1-2 years after mulching. Depending on the type of plant and stage of maturity, Stewards may remove the competing vegetation by manually pulling out a plant’s entire root system, or implementing the “chop-and-drop” method.
Removing invasive species
Invasive species are insects, plants and animals that are not native to the region we are planting in. As a result, they can quickly overtake a newly cleared site and outcompete or harm native trees. Stewards are taught how to remove invasive forest pests, like Japanese beetles that browse on foliage.
Protecting trees from browsing animals
Young trees and shrubs are susceptible to browsing from animals throughout the year. Deer browse on new buds and foliage throughout the growing season while rabbits and other rodents eat away at the bark throughout winter. Placing guards around the base of trees and applying deer and rabbit repellent can help protect trees from potential browsing. Stewards participate in placing tree guards on trees in autumn and removing them in early spring.
Become a forest steward
Sign up for our Volunteer Mailing List for information about the wide range of opportunities to get involved!
Keep an eye on your inbox for our quarterly volunteer newsletters with information about upcoming volunteer opportunities, events, and the latest FCF news!
We aim to reach an 85% survival rate for our community tree planting projects!
FCF is dedicated to stewarding the new urban forests we plant alongside our community volunteers. There are many challenges trees face when planted in urban areas such as high pollution levels, excess heat, drought, increased risk of disease, and exposure to pests and invasive species. However the social, economical, and ecological benefits that urban forests bring to communities are undeniable. With communities as our priority, we have set a goal that goes above the industry standard.