AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — Alabama communities are getting greener and more resilient through Green Up Alabama, a new initiative led by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System that combines urban tree planting with hands-on workforce development.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, Green Up Alabama focuses on revitalizing urban forests in small and rural communities that often lack the resources and trained workforce needed to manage trees and respond to storm damage. Over the next five years, the program will plant hundreds of trees in underserved areas while training local workers in urban forestry, arboriculture and storm-response skills.

The Green Up Alabama program has changed the landscape of the Russell County Sports Complex. The new trees will one day provide shade for community gatherings.

“Urban trees are more than landscaping. They’re essential infrastructure,” said Georgios Arseniou, assistant professor and Extension specialist of urban forestry at Auburn University. “When communities invest in the right trees and manage them properly, they reduce heat, improve air quality, manage stormwater and create safer, more livable public spaces. Green Up Alabama helps communities do all of that in a strategic, long-term way.”

Green Up Local Communities

In Russell County, Extension specialists and local partners recently planted more than a dozen trees in a public park that serves as a growing hub for recreation and community events.

“Shade matters, especially in Alabama summers,” Arseniou said. “Planting trees in places where people gather — parks, walking trails, recreation areas — makes those spaces more usable and more welcoming, while also delivering environmental benefits that last for decades.”

Local Extension leaders say Green Up Alabama meets both practical and emotional needs in rural communities.

One of 15 nuttall oaks planted at the Russell County Sports Complex.

“One of the things people told us was that it was simply too hot to enjoy these spaces in the summer,” said Jennifer Davidson, Russell County Extension director. “This project allowed us to connect university resources with local priorities and make a visible improvement that people can enjoy right away.”

Davidson added that community investment builds pride and connection.

“When people see their community being cared for, it changes how they feel about where they live, and they’re more likely to take care of it themselves,” she said.

County officials see the project as a long-term investment in quality of life.

“This park is becoming a centerpiece for our community, and the trees are only going to add to that,” said Chance Corbett, Russell County commissioner. “Projects like this help make Russell County a place where people want to live, gather and stay.”

Safer Storm Response, Tree Removal

Beau Brodbeck, Alabama Extension assistant director for field operations, among the historic live oaks of Washington Square, in Mobile, Ala.

Beyond tree planting, Green Up Alabama places a strong emphasis on workforce development. The program provides hands-on training in chainsaw safety, tree maintenance, electrical-hazard awareness and other skills critical to managing urban forests safely and effectively.

“A lot of rural communities struggle to find people with the technical knowledge to care for mature trees,” said Beau Brodbeck, Alabama Extension assistant director for field operations. “We’re training workers not just to plant trees, but to maintain them safely over time. That creates a more resilient community and opens the door to better-paying jobs in the tree-care industry.

Brodbeck said storm preparedness is a major driver behind the program.

“Storms are a way of life in Alabama,” he said. “By training local workers and first responders, communities are better prepared to clean up safely and efficiently after severe weather.”

More Information

Green Up Alabama is currently accepting applications from eligible communities interested in participating in future tree planting and workforce training opportunities. More information is available at www.aces.edu.