About the STEW-MAP Project
Urban trees create shade, habitat, and recreational spaces that support the well-being of urban communities. Protecting urban trees depends on the ability of many different groups to care for, or steward, trees. Yet tree stewardship varies widely across neighborhoods and cities, and we still have much to learn about how it works and where it's most effective.
The Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP) is a research methodology and mapping tool developed by the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station to build partnerships and organize environmental stewards. STEW-MAP currently operates in 15 regions worldwide to collect information about civic groups and organizations doing environmental stewardship and answer the question: who takes care of the local environment?
The Twin Cities Tree Stewardship Mapping Project brings the international STEW-MAP initiative to the MSP Metro Area. The project analyzes how groups collaborate and the specific stewardship activities they perform—such as tree planting, maintenance, or advocacy—to identify opportunities for groups to coordinate more effectively and share resources. This knowledge can highlight areas that may be underserved or ecologically vulnerable, such as neighborhoods with limited stewardship activity or declining urban forest conditions. We aim to inform equitable decisions about where and how to invest in the long-term care of urban forests.
View the map and the network diagrams below to learn about who cares for trees near you and how to get involved. To add your organization to the map or learn more about our project, email Forest Research Team graduate student Sally Donovan at [email protected].
Contact
Sally Donovan, PhD Candidate at the University of Minnesota & MSP LTER Urban Forests Team
Tree Stewardship Networks
View the Tree Stewardship Map
Related Blog Posts
Surveys and Soirees: Documenting Tree Stewardship Across the Twin Cities
December 15, 2026
By Sally Donovan, PhD Candidate in the University of Minnesota Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, and the MSP LTER Urban Forests Team
For decades, scientists have studied how biodiversity influences resilience—the ability of an ecosystem to resist and recover from disturbances, such as drought and pest outbreaks. Yet forest resilience also relies on social variables, like the capacity of communities and governments to care for, or steward, them. This is particularly visible in urban forests where trees and vegetation are tightly packed against human-built infrastructure. In this piece, PhD candidate Sally Donovan shares her research mapping local stewardship networks to track their capacities to support resilient ecosystems.