Communities across the country are giving new purpose to wood that once lined city streets and parks. As many urban canopies decline due to old age and environmental stress, regional and local partnerships have emerged to sustainably re-purpose excess wood. Nonprofits are partnering with private companies to develop these innovative wood recovery methods. From creating lumber for floors and furniture to woodchip mulch, organizations are reaping the continued benefits of urban trees and also raising funds to support re-planting efforts.

1. Street to Store: Urban Wood Reuse
Jessica Simons, Coordinator, The Urbanwood Project (Ann Arbor, MI)
The Urbanwood Project is a member of the Urban Forest Products Alliance, which aligns
industry, government, and non-profit leaders to put urban forest wood to good use. This
group is working across 5 midwestern states to advance sustainable recovery of urban trees
in the wake of natural disasters, pests, and disease infestation.
Jason Graham, Recycling Coordinator/School Specialist, Keep Gastonia Beautiful
(Gastonia, NC)
Keep Gastonia Beautiful operates with the full tree life cycle in mind, creating mulch and
‘black gold’—a potting soil-like substance—from old, removed city trees. Semi-annually, the
organization holds a Black Gold & Mulch sale to support their work greening the city.

2. Jessica Simons
Verdant Stewardship / Urbanwood Project
ACTrees Webcast Training
June 19, 2014
PERSPECTIVES FROM MICHIGAN & ACROSS THE NATION
Street to Store: Urban Wood Reuse

3. Where We Were… Michigan - 2002
What is killing the trees and where did it come from?
How many dead trees are we talking about?
Where is all of this wood going to go?
How much is this going to cost?

4. First EAB outbreak = most urban part of MI
These trees are most valued when alive
Wood is viewed as waste
Can we use this to connect cities to forestry?
Why did we focus on urban forests?
Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

5. Dead and dying trees from
cities in SE Michigan
could produce
73.5 million bf
of lumber each year –
enough wood to build
5,600
average-sized homes
Is there any value in the urban forest?
Source: MacFarlane 2007

6. • Better crisis response
• Lowered disposal costs
• Affordable wood products
• New partnerships
• Full-circle urban forestry
• Resource stewardship
• Job creation
• Carbon-smart
• Meaningful story
What were the possible benefits?

7. Urban Wood:
Finding the Highest and Best Use

11. Urbanwood Marketplace Sales Growth

12. 1) Ann Arbor – supply chain details, challenges
2) Chicago – marketing and branding
3) Milwaukee – association, strategic plan
USFS-Funded
Tri-State Project 2010
Finding Value in Urban and Community Trees:
Marketing Green Products from Non-Traditional Forests

14. VISION
All wood from urban trees is put to good use.
MISSION
The Urban Forest Products Alliance advances the
sustainable recovery
and the
highest and best use
of the products of urban forests.

15. UFPA - Basic Beliefs
1. Urban trees have their highest value while
living. When removed, they should be put to
their highest/best use.
2. Recovery and highest/best use are essential to
sustainable urban forestry.
3. Increasing end user demand for urban forest
products is key.
4. We can be more effective with collaboration
and information sharing.
5. We will work with diverse stakeholders who
share our vision and mission.

16. Market/Supply Chain Development
• Promoting end-user demand
Advocacy and Policy
• Remove barriers & create incentives
Technical Assistance & Standards
• Skills development and networking
Membership Support
• Services and benefits for members
Organizational Capacity and Health
• Promote sustainability of association
UFPA – Strategic Pillars

17. Looking ahead
1. USFS CARP grant for 4-state Midwest program
2. Pilot projects: Raleigh, NC & Baltimore, MD
3. Delta Institute guide for architects
4. TCIA ANSI A300 Standard: Urban Forest Products
5. Active state programs: MI, WI, IL, MO, NC, CA
6. USFS WERC Webinars

18. Putting all wood from urban trees to good use
Join the Urban Forest Products Alliance on LinkedIn
Join the conversation…

19. Please contact:
Jessica Simons
info@urbanwood.org
Questions?
This work has been supported by
www.urbanwood.org

20. Questions?

21. Keep Gastonia Beautiful
Black Gold and Mulch

22. What is Black Gold?
• Organic matter that has been decomposed
and recycled as a fertilizer and soil
amendment.

23. What is Mulch?
• A layer of material applied to the surface of an
area of soil.

24. Marketing
• Newspaper
• Facebook
• Government Access Channel
• Website
• Postcards
• Email Blast
• Signs
• Black Board Calls

49. Miscellaneous
• Cost
• Tonnage
• Donations
• Volunteers

50. Contact Information
• Jason Graham-School Specialist/Recycling
Coordinator
Keep Gastonia Beautiful
150 S. York Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 869-1008
jasong@cityofgastonia.com

51. Questions?

52. Thank You!
Please take a minute to answer the survey questions that
appear at the close of this session.