Guiding Principles and Public Process

A plan is only as good as its principles. If this plan is to have the right outcomes for Cedar Rapids, its actions must be driven by a set of beliefs that the people of Cedar Rapids share. For this reason, the plan’s public outreach focused on identifying what those beliefs are.

We cast a wide net, asking for public suggestions and coming up with a list of thirteen possible guiding principles. These were then submitted to polling across a range of venues, including at public workshops (via Zoom due to the global pandemic), through the online ReLeaf portal, and through clipboard interviews at neighborhood events, with the goal of also hearing from those who might not engage online.

Over seven months, more than 2,800 people weighed in. Poll responses showed strong support for most of the suggested principles, but not all. Of the top eleven principles shown in the Guiding Principles Rankings Chart, Expediency was the only principle removed. The mandate was to complete the effort within a decade, so the principle became a mere given. Research demonstrated that the two principles of Habitat Preservation and Native Landscape were essentially the same, and they were combined into Native Habitat. The remaining nine principles can be grouped into three different categories shown below.

ReLeaf Principles: Categories

PLANET: Rebuilding the canopy to keep the earth supportive of life.

PEOPLE: Rebuilding the canopy for the best social outcomes.

PLANTS: Rebuilding the canopy with trees that last and maximize their impact.

The ReLeaf Principles

Mission Statement

ReLeaf Cedar Rapids is committed to rebuilding a resilient canopy of mostly native trees, one that preserves citywide plant diversity and distinct neighborhood character, while striving to limit climate change, increase social equity, encourage volunteerism, grow human capital, and educate our children.

PLANET PRINCIPLES

Native Habitat

Our continued presence on this planet is threatened by a “sixth mass extinction” already underway. Right now, 52 percent of insects and 25 percent of mammals face extinction risk due to habitat loss. Native trees are a key component of the food web that supports these creatures and, ultimately, us. Non-native trees do not feed local insects or birds.

Climate Action

Cedar Rapids must do its part to fight climate change. Trees are a primary defense against global heating, and trees near roads are uniquely effective at absorbing greenhouse gases.

PEOPLE PRINCIPLES

Equity

The benefits provided by local trees include improved air quality, greater stormwater absorption, lower summer temperatures, higher property values, and even reduced crime. These benefits matter everywhere, but they are especially impactful in historically underserved neighborhoods, where investment in a robust tree canopy can balance out other disparities.

Human Capital

The job of replanting Cedar Rapids and tending to its canopy requires workers who can potentially come from anywhere. Given that this is a multi-year effort, and tree service management training can lead to a good career, local talent — specially low-income youth — should be nurtured in the plan’s execution.

Volunteer Participation

Many positive personal impacts come from planting trees and helping them grow, and residents who help with planting are more likely to value and care for trees in the years ahead. Also, most of Cedar Rapids’ trees are privately owned, so rebuilding a robust canopy will depend on robust citizen action.

Public Education

The post-derecho replanting of the Cedar Rapids canopy provides an unmatched opportunity to inform the public about the value of trees. It can also be used to involve and educate schoolchildren and adults around forestry, ecology, geography, and meteorology.

PLANT PRINCIPLES

Resilience

The derecho taught us a valuable lesson. Future storms are inevitable, as are blights like the emerald ash borer. Trees must be selected, sourced, planted, and tended with an eye to these risks. Stormwater management — key to a resilient community — must also inform planting decisions.

Species Diversity

A resilient ecosystem is built from a wide variety of trees and plants, and the threat of diseases and insects mandates that we don’t rely on too few tree species. Additionally, good cities offer the delight of variety and allow different neighborhoods to distinguish themselves through their trees.

Species Diversity

One of the great benefits of trees is the pleasure provided by their changing shapes, colors, scents, and sounds. Also, urban trees rarely stand alone, but rather contribute to placemaking in combination with others. The selection and grouping of trees should be informed by their beauty and the goal of establishing places of distinct character.