Blue Shield of California teamed up with California ReLeaf, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), local public officials, and engaged community members in a meaningful tree-planting event at Woodland commemorating California Arbor Week. The event was held at Rick Gonzales, Sr. Park, where environmental advocates and residents gathered to discuss trees’ importance in establishing healthier communities. 

Speakers at the event highlighted the need to increase tree canopies, especially in urban areas, to buffer heated extremes and filter out particulates in the air, promoting public well-being in general. This has forever linked the environment with sustainability to community health and wellness.

“Trees play a crucial role in public health,” said Dr. Jennifer Nuovo, chief medical officer at Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, who represented Blue Shield at the event. “A robust tree canopy improves mental and physical health, combats pollution and helps build community.”

Engaging Youth Through Art

As part of the celebration, Dr. Nuovo announced the winners of the youth Arbor Week Art Contest, an annual competition designed to educate and engage students ages 5-12 on the value of neighborhood trees. This year’s contest, themed “Trees Root Our Community,” received hundreds of submissions statewide. Four winners were unveiled at the event, highlighting children’s perspectives on how trees contribute to public health and community well-being.

“Supporting our youth and empowering them to take action is so important,” Dr. Nuovo commented. “When it comes to Blue Shield’s climate action — reducing our emissions, reducing paper to save trees, greening health care through our Virtual Blue health plan, helping combat growing youth climate anxiety, partnering with organizations like California ReLeaf, and doing the right thing — it’s not just a matter of saving the planet, it’s about saving lives and keeping people healthy. We all need to do our part,” she added.

Community Collaboration for a Greener Future

California Arbor Week, from March 7 through March 14, encourages every community throughout the state to plant, nurture, and cherish trees for their environmental and community health benefits. This year’s California Arbor Week and Growing Green Communities grants for tree planting will contribute to funding twenty-three grassroots projects in urban forestry.

The event’s tree planting in Woodland was made possible through a partnership with the Woodland Tree Foundation, the City of Woodland, and the Woodland Joint Unified School District. The newly planted tree at Rick Gonzales, Sr. Park will add to the city’s extensive urban forest, which already consists of over 16,000 trees.

Recognizing the Impact of Urban Forests

Cindy Blain, executive director of California ReLeaf, highlighted the collaborative spirit behind Arbor Week and its long-term impact.

“It’s incredibly inspiring to see how communities come together during Arbor Week and throughout the year to plant and nurture trees — recognizing the immense value of our urban forests and the wonderful possibilities when we work hand-in-hand to plant and nurture trees,” shared Cindy Blain, executive director of California ReLeaf. She added, “Every year Arbor Week reminds us of the essential role trees play in nurturing community resilience, strengthening social bonds and improving public health.”

Trees are necessary for healthier and more sustainable communities locally and statewide. Thanks to the continued investment in urban forestry and community engagement by organizations such as Blue Shield of California and California ReLeaf, which are working to make this world a better place for future generations,