An urban forest is a living system–one that relies on the health, safety and vitality of all parts of the network in order to be robust and life-supporting. All of us–the human beings who constitute our city and our communities–are part of that same urban ecosystem, and we too are connected and mutually dependent. When some in our ecosystem are not afforded safety, freedom or justice, the system as a whole is out-of-balance. If we are concerned for the ecosystem that is our home and our community then we must speak out, look inward, and take real and concrete anti-racist action to address and correct the long-standing injustices that continuously imperil the lives and safety of Black and brown people--and block any potential for a truly healthy collective ecology and body of life. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS INEXTRICABLY LINKED WITH RACIAL JUSTICE.
PNPP stands in solidarity with communities across the country who are standing up to affirm that Black Lives Matter, who are grieving over the most recent instances of the murder of unarmed black people at the hands of police, and who are fighting against the systemic racism and violence that most fiercely targets Black communities. We know that Black and brown communities are disproportionately affected by poor air quality due to lack of access to greenspace and deliberate siting of industrial zones & highways. We know that these communities are likely to be first impacted by consequences of climate change, and we know well that inequities in our tree canopy–both the benefits it provides and the burdens of maintaining it–exist here in Providence.
We are committed to ongoing alliance with those working to dismantle systems of oppression, racism and environmental apartheid in Rhode Island and nationwide, and to the work of undoing the intertwined legacies of environmental injustice and the systemic devaluing of Black lives. One of the most immediate ways we will be acting on this commitment is through our about-to-launch Working collaboratively to create a PVD Tree Plan–a project to guide us in creating an equitable and healthy urban forest–is one step. There are many more steps. We will take them, and we will follow and listen to the Black and Indigenous leaders and other leaders of color who are already doing this vital work locally, to create equity and justice across our communities.
As always, we look forward to seeing you all out in the urban forest...however, it must be an urban forest that is truly equitable, safe, and life-affirming for all who inhabit it.
We’re ready to work together to build that forest.