Every five years The Morton Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative surveys municipalities and park districts to determine the operational capacity of public land managers in the Chicago region to maintain and improve their portions of the regional forest.

The inaugural Community Forestry Survey conducted in 2015 included responses from 132 municipalities and 20 park districts in the seven counties of the Chicago region—Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will.

At the time, municipalities were grappling with emerald ash borer infestation. In most of these communities, the emphasis was placed on taking down affected trees. Some municipalities managing emerald ash borer created management plans that included treatment priorities, engaging residents about the removed trees, and replacement plantings.

In 2020, the second Community Forestry Survey revealed that most communities described challenges in getting into a tree care routine, were establishing pruning cycles, and expressed interest in investing in tree care and planting.

Knowing there are many factors that influence a community’s forestry priorities, these data are most useful for informing where outreach, training, and technical assistance is needed and how to best provide those resources.

Results from the Community Forestry Survey inform CRTI’s annual planning and is the inspiration behind many of its programs and projects, including the Ordinance Builder for Tree Protection and the Urban Forestry Basic Training course offered in collaboration with the Illinois Arborist Association.

The Community Forestry Survey will continue to be sent out every five years to track the Chicago region’s progress and to identify obstacles in caring for its trees and supporting a healthy regional forest.