Shade that blocks the searing heat of a summer day and leaves that help generate the air we breathe are among the many reasons to care for your community forest.

Next Generation of Conservation

Community Conservation IconTalk About Community Conservation

People make the difference. See what they’re up to and how you can get involved across the state. Send your comments and follow links to local programs.

Community Conservation on Fresh Afield

Get the funds to enhance or help start a tree care project in your community from the Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) program. TRIM is a cost-share tree care program administered by the Missouri Department of Conservation in cooperation with the Missouri Community Forest Council. Through this program, funds are available for communities to inventory, remove high-risk trees, train workers, prune and plant trees.

Communities which care for their tree infrastructure proactively may be eligible for recognition as a Tree City USA by The National Arbor Day Foundation. Additional recognition may be earned through the Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence program.

Utility providers who demonstrate a commitment to sound tree care, worker training, and public outreach and education can achieve recognition by The National Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Line USA.

Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM)

TRIM is a competitive cost-share tree care program administered by the Missouri Department of Conservation in cooperation with the Missouri Community Forest Council. The program provides reimbursement of $1,000 to $10,000 to assist government agencies, public schools and non-profit groups with the management, improvement or conservation of trees on public lands.

Projects eligible for TRIM funding include tree inventory, remove or pruning of hazardous trees, tree planting, and training of volunteers and city/county employees to best care for our community forests.

Applicants must submit a completed application form, which details project cost and funding sources, maps and drawings of the project site, a three-year maintenance plan for the project and a letter of approval from the governmental body owning the proposed project site. The application deadline is June 1.

Projects for funding are selected on a competitive basis. A panel of judges assess each proposal for its value to the community, thoroughness as a tree management program, ability to promote, improve and develop a community's urban forest and economic feasibility.

Grant recipients can receive up to 60 percent of the money needed for their projects. Projects located in communities with The National Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA designation are eligible for an additional 15 percent in matching funds.

An application workbook is available free of charge to help interested communities to put together a first-rate proposal.

Tree City USA

Every community, regardless of size, can benefit from caring for their publicly owned trees and achieving certification as a Tree City USA. To be certificated a town or city must meet four standards established by The National Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters.

These standards were established to ensure that every qualifying community would have a viable tree management plan and program. It is important to note that they were also designed so that no community would be excluded because of size

The Four Standards of a Tree City USA

Download a Tree City USA workbook

Is your community a Tree City USA?

Certified Communities

Tree Line USA

Many utility providers in Missouri participate in the Tree Line USA program. Tree Line USA is sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation and implemented in Missouri in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Conservation. It recognizes public and private utilities across the nation that demonstrate practices that protect and enhance our community forests.

The program promotes the dual goals of dependable utility service and abundant, healthy trees. To meet these goals, criteria have been developed that highlight key practices that need to be followed. To qualify for recognition a utility company must meet three requirements.

Certified Utility Providers

Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence

The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Community Forestry Council annually recognize communities, institutions, and individuals for substantially improving their respective community’s trees.

To win recognition applicants must outline how their care of trees contributed significantly to the town or area where they are located and that their work is part of a sustainable long term effort. The overall health and attractiveness of any community’s trees depends on many people practicing good tree stewardship on public and private property. Well designed tree plantings and sustained long term care of existing trees are an important part of assuring a healthy community forest.

Nominations are accepted November through December.

Download a Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence brochure

2007 Award Winners

Municipalities/Governments

Individual

Organization