Cambridge Urban Forest Master Plan
A climate-forward approach to resilient, equitable urban forestry.
What It Is
A city-scale research and planning effort guiding Cambridge’s urban forest strategy in response to climate risk. The work combined technical analysis, policy and implementation recommendations, stakeholder communication, and public outreach to support a more resilient and equitable canopy across the city.
Why It Matters
Urban forests provide critical ecosystem services such as heat mitigation, air quality benefits, and stormwater support, but they are vulnerable to climate stress and uneven investment. This plan addressed the urgent need for a resilient, sustainable urban forest across roughly 4,500 acres and a large citywide canopy, with an emphasis on equity, long-term stewardship, and climate readiness.
How It Works / What I Did
Research and analysis
- Contributed to synthesis and communication of complex climate, canopy, and environmental stress data
- Helped translate technical findings into clear narratives for planners, decision-makers, and residents
- Supported data visualization and story structure across technical and public-facing deliverables
Technical Report (264 pages)
Includes climate risk modeling, canopy assessment, and citywide evaluation of environmental stressors.
- Supported shaping the long-form report into a coherent, usable document for urban planners and policymakers
- Contributed to communicating analysis such as climate risk factors, existing canopy conditions, and citywide stressors
- Helped package findings into actionable recommendations for tree care, planting practices, and investment prioritization
Multidisciplinary collaboration
Worked as part of a team that combined expertise across arboriculture, ecology, engineering, soil science, planning, and design, translating specialist inputs into a single integrated master plan.
Community outreach and Summary Report
- Helped distill the technical work into an accessible summary designed for the general public
- Supported public-facing language, visuals, and structure so residents could understand the “why” and the “what next”
Tree Walk (outreach component)
Built an interactive app to bridge technical data with lived experience, helping residents explore species, ecological benefits, and stewardship pathways through a simple, engaging interface.
Outcome
A published technical and public communication suite that continues to serve as a foundation for Cambridge’s urban forest strategy. The project is a model for turning deep research into public-facing systems that people can understand, trust, and use.
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