ABSTRACT
Trees are visible signs of urban sustainability programs at work that provide substantive benefits for urban residents and political benefits for the sponsors of the programs. This chapter discusses how urban sustainability is related to a legacy of trees in the United States, as well as to the broader urban sustainability movement. This study is situated within the long history of urban tree planting efforts in the United States in order to understand more fully how this program compares with prior urban environmental stewardship initiatives. The chapter also discusses the global urban sustainability movement in detail. Finally, it provides details about who participates in volunteer tree planting through this initiative to understand how it has shaped MillionTreesNYC, as well as the broader democratic arena in New York City. The program has created formal partnerships with various groups, as well as an advisory board that includes representatives from the government, non-governmental organizations, and the business community in New York City.
