Stewarding Urban Tree Canopies: An Analysis of the United States Forest Service Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project

In this paper, I explore the United States Forest Service Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP) through a historical, environmental justice, and application-based lens. First, I introduce the concept, as well as pertinent terms. My research, based on exploring the effectiveness of STEW-MAP, dives into the need for a network-based, community-oriented mapping project that explores the intersections between environmental management and community stewardship organizations. I base this off of government actions, especially the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s role in redlining and reducing tree cover in many American cities. I then provide an understanding of how STEW-MAP is conducted and functions, followed by a discussion with five Forest Service researchers who have worked on the project. Throughout my paper, I emphasize the importance of this project while stressing its current limitations, arguing that these limitations are opportunities for improvement. The paper concludes with an analysis of the conversations with the researchers and the methods by which the project can improve to be more effective and accessible beyond research literature.