City Forest Communities

Cities face growing challenges in the fight against climate change—extreme heat waves and sudden heavy rainfalls impact everyone, with disproportionately severe consequences for low-income neighbourhoods. The unequal distribution of high-quality green spaces reveals a stark parallel with socio-economic divides across Dutch cities: in many cases, poorer neighbourhoods are also the hottest, amplifying environmental and social injustices.

Urban trees not only cool neighbourhoods, filter pollutants, manage stormwater and offer carbon sequestration, but also support biodiversity and enhance human well-being.

City Forest Communities is a design-research initiative that enables spatially tailored, community-rooted urban forests addressing climate, ecological, and social justice challenges. At the core of this initiative is a nature stewardship model — empowering residents to co-create and maintain urban forests, linking environmental regeneration with social cohesion.

In Pendrecht, City Forest Communities is working toward achieving over 30% canopy cover – a threshold for climate resilience – as part of its green densification strategy. Tools like i-Tree now make it possible to precisely quantify long-term benefits in terms of environmental impact, energy savings, and monetary value. This allows carbon registries like City Forest Credits to issue Carbon+ credits, which companies can purchase to offset emissions and achieve their climate goals by investing in local urban forests.

Revenue from these credits could support a community-driven maintenance strategy—including nature education and green jobs that engage residents as nature stewards—while simultaneously advancing social and ecological justice in Pendrecht.

As we near climate breakdown, urban trees may emerge as a natural asset class and investment opportunity. Developing knowledge to maximise benefits and mitigate risks of this shift is essential for a green transition that is both feasible and just.