IEN Engagement

In 2023, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Urban & Community Forestry Program chose IEN to facilitate a project with “gap communities” across the nation; i.e. those communities that historically did not have community forestry or have not yet accessed the benefits of community forestry, such as lower crime, increased business, improved public health, and more. 

This program is the only federal entity dedicated to “applying nature-based solutions to chronic and emergent economic, social, and environmental challenges.”  IEN developed a tool to support these communities in starting, funding, and sustaining community forestry programs.

Spreading Roots graphic

In partnership with the West Cary Group (WCG), IEN worked with a Research Advisory Committee, an Engagement and Outreach Advisory Committee, and over 50 participants, representing rural, low-income, Indigenous, Latino, and African-American neighborhoods and groups nationwide. Together they launched the Spreading Roots Community Action Toolkit in February 2025.

The toolkit includes guidance for communities on how they can initiate and sustain their own community forestry programs:

  • Tools to Name Your Initiative and Share Your Goals: find logos, mission statements and more to help develop the building blocks of an initiative.
  • Tools to Educate: find photography, illustrations, icons, creative content approaches, blank templates, presentation templates and info sheets to support educational efforts.
  • Tools to Mobilize: find flyers, social media templates and scripting to help initiate a project and spread the word.
  • General Resources and Case Studies: find local, regional and national resources and organizations as well as examples of projects and initiatives.