The Chattanooga Tree Project (CTP) is dedicated to expanding Chattanooga’s tree canopy by planting trees and fostering partnerships. Through collaboration, we create job opportunities, provide education, and actively engage the community in environmental stewardship. Our goal is to promote a healthier environment and strengthen neighborhoods for future generations.
The Chattanooga Tree Project operates under funding from the U.S. Forest Service, which supports urban forestry initiatives across the country. This grant enables CTP to plant trees, create workforce development programs, and educate the community about the benefits of urban forestry. Through strategic planning and collaboration with local partners, CTP ensures that funds are used efficiently to maximize environmental and social impact. While the grant serves as the foundation for our work, we are actively exploring additional funding opportunities to sustain and expand our efforts beyond the grant’s duration, ensuring a lasting legacy of environmental stewardship in Chattanooga.
CTP is a strong partnership between the City of Chattanooga, the IGTLab at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Understory by green|spaces, and the Southeast Conservation Corps. This collaboration is essential to our success, allowing us to leverage resources, expertise, and community networks. Our partnership provides vital support through funding, education, workforce development, and volunteer engagement. By working together, we maximize our impact, ensuring that more trees are planted, more people are educated, and more communities benefit from a greener, healthier environment.
The City of Chattanooga enhances the city's urban canopy and promotes environmental sustainability. plant trees and conduct invasive species removal and riparian buffer restoration projects in underserved neighborhoods and parks around the city. Through these efforts, they aim to increase Chattanooga’s tree cover and cultivate a shared sense of environmental stewardship.
Southeast Conservation Corps plays a vital role in supporting the Chattanooga Tree Project by providing skilled crews for tree-planting and habitat restoration efforts. With a focus on empowering young adults and veterans through conservation service programs, SECC helps execute large-scale projects that improve urban green spaces and protect natural ecosystems. Their expertise and dedication ensure that the tree project’s goals are met with efficiency and long-lasting impact, benefiting both the environment and the community.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga inspires environmental awareness and action among its students and faculty. Through tree-planting events, research initiatives, and volunteer programs, UTC contributes to expanding the city’s tree canopy while providing hands-on educational experiences. By integrating sustainability into its curriculum and fostering student engagement, UTC helps equip the next generation with the knowledge and skills needed to address environmental challenges in their communities. UTC’s Interdisciplinary Geospatial Technology Lab is contributing its expertise in geospatial data science, spatial analysis, and cartography for tree planting prioritization, project tracking, canopy assessments, and public outreach.
Understory by Green|Spaces collaborates with the Chattanooga Tree Project to promote sustainable development and urban resilience. Their focus on green infrastructure and environmental design supports tree-planting initiatives that address urban heat islands and stormwater management. Through community outreach and innovative sustainability programs, Understory helps amplify the importance of trees in creating livable, thriving neighborhoods. Their efforts align with the broader mission of fostering environmental stewardship across Chattanooga.
