Funded in part by a nearly $1,000,000 grant from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, the Conservation Corps of Long Beach (CCLB) is implementing an urban wood recovery apprenticeship program that has the potential to be a model for other programs across California. This program is teaching Corpsmembers how to remove hazardous trees throughout the city, control insects and diseases, and divert woody biomass from landfills to help keep greenhouse gases sequestered in the wood. Additionally, trees will be replaced to mitigate poor air quality, a lack of urban green space, and improve storm water retention in disadvantaged communities. Ultimately, this program will provide a foundation for Corpsmembers interested pursuing jobs in urban forestry.
CCLB Corpsmember Sarah Marquez says, “I love the program! I'm learning so much about the importance of a healthy urban forest and I get the opportunity to learn how to use all kinds of awesome equipment. I'm an Urban Lumberjack!"
As part of the program, Corpsmembers learn by doing. First, they remove hazardous trees and transport them to a newly established urban wood milling and processing facility that will contain a wood storage and processing yard, a dehumidifier drying kiln, and a portable mill. West Coast Arborists, Inc. then teach Corpsmembers how to process the wood into urban lumber. Additionally, about 2,000 drought tolerant trees will be planted and maintained throughout the city’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods, where most of the Corpsmembers reside.
Dan Knapp, CCLB Executive Director, appreciates the opportunity to implement a multi-benefit project. "As a youth development organization, we're always looking for inventive ways to better prepare our Corpsmembers for the future workforce,” says Knapp. “This program not only trains our participants for a future in a growing industry, it also helps bolster the resiliency of our urban forest and address climate change."