urban forestry in a multicultural society

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185Journal of Arboriculture 30(3): May 2004

URBAN FORESTRY IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETYby Mark Johnston1 andLia D. Shimada2

The populations of cities around the world are becomingincreasingly multicultural in character (Knox and Pinch2000). This is not a new phenomenon; immigration hasplayed a major role in the history of many cities, particu-larly in North America (Berkin et al. 1995). However, overthe past century the world has changed enormously.

Globalization in the economic, political, and culturalspheres has dramatically changed the scale and character ofimmigration and has radically altered the populationcomposition and dynamics of the modern city. Many citiesnow attract large numbers of new residents from othercountries and continents, with languages and cultures quitedifferent from those of the host nation. War and politicalstrife in troubled parts of the world continue to lead to newinfluxes of refugees and asylum seekers.

Many cities are becoming increasingly polarized intodistinct neighborhoods of different social class and culture(Knox and Pinch 2000). Residents from similar back-grounds tend to cluster together for mutual support and

protection, and to preserve group identity and culture.Immigrants often arrive with limited financial resources andtend to settle in depressed, inner-city neighborhoodscharacterized by a poor physical environment. Highunemployment, poor health, and low levels of educationand literacy frequently accompany such neighborhoods,which are sometimes considered breeding grounds forviolence, crime, and an organized gang culture.

In the popular media, the problems faced bymulticultural societies tend to receive the most coverage.Ethnic communities and host communities can both see

Abstract. The increasingly multicultural character of modernurban society creates challenges and opportunities for the urbanforester. For the urban forestry strategy to respond effectively tocontemporary social issues, it must include policies and programsthat promote social inclusion and the involvement of disadvan-taged ethnic communities. This can be accomplished through adistinct community strategy. Although the fundamental principlesof community involvement still apply, their application needs toreflect the multicultural diversity of the individual city orneighborhood. The education, consultation, and participationelements of the community strategy are delivered through a widerange of events and activities specifically designed to promote

social inclusion and the engagement of ethnic communities.Key Words. Urban forestry; social benefits; multicultural

societies; disadvantaged communities; social inclusion; commu-nity strategies.

their identities, traditions, and economic prospects asthreatened by the other (Giddens 2001). These fears breedintolerance, discrimination, and racism, and have a cancer-ous effect on community relations. In many cities over thepast few decades, explosive urban riots sparked by racialtensions have shattered community relations and shakenthe complacency of governments that have failed to addressthe underlying causes of this conflict (Keith 1992; Saltzstein2003). In the climate of fear and suspicion that nowpervades many urban areas, it is easy to forget the positivecontribution of successive waves of immigration to the

economy and life of the nation (Brown and Hanna 1996).The challenges and opportunities of the multicultural

society should concern everyone, from governments toindividuals. Urban foresters must also address these issuesif they are to operate successfully within the context of themodern city. They can do this only if they have an aware-ness and appreciation of the complexities of contemporarysocial issues.

THELANDSCAPEOFTHEMULTICULTURALCITY

As well as understanding the social dynamics of the

multicultural city, urban foresters also need to be aware ofthe social character of their landscapes. In cities throughoutthe world, the density and health of the urban forest inresidential areas often coincide with the economic status ofthe people who live there. In the poorer neighborhoods,there are frequently few trees, private gardens, or publicopen space. Communal open space between high-rise flatsand tenements is often just a broad expanse of mown grasswith hardly a tree in sight. These neighborhoods often havea high proportion of residents from ethnic backgrounds.

A sense of territoriality and well-being can play a majorrole in how members of different ethnic groups perceivetheir local landscape (Burgess 1995; Loukaitou-Sideris

1995). Is it viewed as safe and familiar or as potentiallythreatening? High levels of crime, anti-social behavior, andracial harassment may discourage residents from puttingthemselves in what they regard as exposed positions inpublic open space or woodland. The most vulnerable in thecommunity, such as the elderly, women, and young chil-dren, are likely to have heightened concerns about safety. Incities marked by racial tensions and frequent conflictbetween different community groups, the demarcation ofentire neighborhoods into distinct territories can be quitepronounced (Johnston 1994, 1995).


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186 Johnston and Shimada: Urban Forestry in a Multicultural Society

Perception of public open spaces naturally influencesthe ways in which they are used (Burgess 1995; Loukaitou-Sideris 1995). The level of use is not just a function ofperceived safety but also reflects attitudes regarding

recreational and aesthetic value. Perceptions of the benefitsof urban trees and landscape can vary considerably amongdifferent ethnic groups (Fraser and Kenney 2000). Urbanlandscapes are often quite uniform in character, usuallyreflecting the horticultural and landscape traditions of thehost culture (Rishbeth 2002). While ethnic influences haveenriched the music, food, and fashion of modern urbansociety, they have found little expression in its public openspaces.

The under-representation of ethnic minorities in theurban environmental movement has been widely observed(Ricard 1993; Iles 1998; Fraser and Kenney 2000; BTCV2002). Many reasons may account for this. Residents of

urban ethnic communities may consider the environmentless of a priority compared to more pressing social oreconomic concerns. Other reasons may include lack of timeor opportunities to participate, a sense of alienation fromthe surroundings, or a sense of feeling marginalized frommainstream community action. One significant barrier toinvolvement may be a popular perception of the environ-mental movement as being elitist, cliquish, and dominatedby people who are white and middle class.

URBANFORESTRYANDSOCIALINCLUSIONThe urban forestry movement has a tradition of caring

about social issues. This is not surprising, since the aim ofurban forestry is to improve the quality of life for urbanresidents. The planting and management of trees is simplythe means to that end, and not the end in itself (Johnston1985). While the sociological benefits of urban trees andforests are now widely recognized, their practical implica-tions often receive limited consideration in the delivery ofurban forestry programs.

The urban forestry movement in the United States hasshown some interest in promoting social inclusion amongethnic communities (Berry 1991; Parris 1991; Sando 1991;Ricard 1993; Iles 1998). There has also been a considerableamount of relevant research in the fields of leisure, outdoor

recreation, and the use of parks and open spaces (Pincetl2002). However, there has been virtually no coverage of thesubject in the British urban forestry literature. In Britain,interest has come mainly from environmentalists andlandscape professionals. Initially, a significant influence inpromoting this interest was the example of cultural gardenscreated in the Lower East Side of Manhattan (New YorkCity) in the 1980s (Johnston 1989a).

As governments throughout the world become moreaware of the need to promote social inclusion among ethniccommunities, the urban forestry movement must respond

or run the risk of losing political influence and socialrelevance. Programs that embrace the entire population notonly attract the support of the whole community, but alsothe support of central and local government as it pursues

this agenda.While effective urban forest management depends on a

good knowledge of the trees and woodlands, urban forestersshould also be familiar with the social complexities of thecommunities they serve. Urban forestry is as much aboutpeople as it is about trees, and knowledge of the trees is onlyhalf of the equation (Johnston 1989b). A detailed survey ofthe urban forest should be accompanied by a social surveythat focuses on the composition and dynamics of the localpopulation. As with the tree survey, this should be updatedregularly. Basic demographic, economic, and social data fordifferent administrative districts can be obtained from themost recent government census, and then supplemented by

information and data from local sources.Resources for urban forestry programs should be

directed primarily at those areas where they are mostneeded. This principle is readily applied to the trees forwhich maintenance work is scheduled according to themost immediate priorities. However, it is often forgottenwhen it comes to the people who live and work in theforest. Urban foresters have a responsibility to give priorityto disadvantaged communities that are currently gainingthe least benefit from the urban forest. While they maypride themselves in state of the art programs in the leafyand affluent residential districts, less fortunate areas should

not be overlooked. Social class or cultural backgroundshould not regulate access to the benefits of the urbanforest. If an urban forestry strategy is to respond effectivelyto contemporary social issues, it must include policies andprograms that promote social inclusion.

While this paper focuses on disadvantaged ethniccommunities, these are not the only socially excludedgroups in urban society. Urban foresters also need torespond to the needs of other marginalized groups, such aswomen, the disabled, the elderly, and the unemployed.

COMMUNITYSTRATEGIESANDETHNICCOMMUNITIES

Any urban forest strategy should also include a communitystrategy that focuses on engaging local communities andensuring maximum benefit from their involvement. Althoughthe importance of having an urban forestry strategy is nowwidely recognized, the idea of including a specific commu-nity strategy is still very new, let alone any reference within itto engaging with ethnic communities. In developing acommunity strategy for multicultural areas, the fundamentalprinciples of community involvement still apply. However,their application should reflect the distinct multiculturalcharacteristics of the individual city or neighborhood.


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Promoting the involvement of ethnic communities inthe delivery of public services must be firmly on the publicauthoritys policy agenda. The drive to ensure that thishappens should include initiatives from central government

in the form of legislation and statutory codes of practice forpublic authorities (CRE 2002). Then, local politicians andsenior managers must be genuinely committed to thesepolicies and not just indulging in tokenism to give theappearance of doing something positive. If relevant policiesand programs are to be developed and appropriate re-sources allocated, commitment must come from the top ofthe public authority, which will then be reflected in theactivities and culture of the whole organization.

A community strategy as it relates to ethnic communitiesshould have two strands. Developing a multicultural ap-proach is not just about engaging with people from ethnicbackgrounds; it is also about educating and involving the

host community and making it more receptive to othercultures. These dual strands reflect the two vital aspects ofethnic identity: how people see themselves and how otherssee them. The strategy should focus on promoting positiveattitudes and perceptions among the whole community. Theaim is to encourage people to work together toward a sharedvision of an inclusive society that will benefit everyone.Within the community strategy, work with schools and youthgroups should be given a high priority.

To be effective, the community strategy must include farmore than just fine words about the need to promotesocial inclusion. It should also include a detailed manage-

ment plan with recognized performance indicators orbenchmarks. As with any management plan, actual perfor-mance should then be regularly measured and monitored.Initially, measurements of performance may have to bequantitative to obtain some indication of progress, but theseshould also move eventually toward qualitative indicators(Johnston 2001).

The strategy must include measures designed topromote the communitys own ability to get involved. Theemphasis should be on capacity building and not just onprovision. While expertise and resources from the publicauthority may be generally available, ethnic communitiesmay have difficulty accessing them. Training schemes and

other initiatives should be organized to focus on building acommunitys capacity to develop, acquire, and gain accessto the skills required to plan and manage projects. How-ever, resident involvement in urban forestry projects doesnot necessarily lead to empowerment; a successful outcomedepends on many different factors (Westphal 2003)

A community program should include a balance ofeducation, consultation, and participation strategies that arespecifically designed to deliver it (Johnston 1989b). If anyof these elements are not represented, the impact of theprogram will be limited.

EDUCATIONANDINFORMATIONThe most difficult task in delivering any communitystrategy is to generate sufficient interest to motivateresidents to become involved (Johnston 1989b). Of course,

those with keen interest in trees and the environment willwelcome the chance. However, for the majority of urbanresidents, trees have little significance in their everydaylives and it is often unrealistic to expect an immediateresponse. Stimulating interest requires a long-term strategyof education and information. This can be done through avariety of media, such as advisory and promotional materi-als about trees and tree care; environmental educationprojects for schools and youth groups; informal lectures tocommunity groups; open days at the urban forestry unitsoperational base; and exhibitions and displays in commu-nity centers, schools, libraries, and other civic buildings.

In delivering an education strategy for multicultural

areas, the design and promotion of these educational eventsand activities must take into account the need to promote asocially inclusive image. A multicultural interpretation ofthe urban forest is an essential part of this strategy. Whilethe landscape may be uniform in character, the range ofplants that grow there is invariably multicultural, withdifferent species of trees from around the world. Aneffective way of introducing the whole community to themulticultural nature of the urban forest is through guidedtree walks around parks and streets. Trees that originatefrom the countries of origin of ethnic communities can behighlighted. The informal nature of these guided walks also

allows a valuable opportunity for social interaction amongthe participants.The use of language is a particularly important issue in

the delivery of education and information programs inmulticultural communities. For basic practical reasons, theurban forester often needs to be able to communicatemultilingually. This is simply the most effective way ofgetting information across to the greatest number of people.From administrative forms to educational leaflets, urbanforesters must be conscious of when they should adopt amultilingual approach. Access to interpretive facilitiesshould be an essential part of the resources available to theurban forestry team.

Apart from its role in effective communications, lan-guage is also an integral part of the culture and identity ofhuman communities (Giddens 2001). By using the lan-guage of ethnic communities in educational literature andother program materials, urban foresters can confirm,reinforce, and demonstrate respect for this cultural identity.

On the subject of language, it is worth mentioning thatsome terms in the environmental vocabulary can haveunintended but nonetheless damaging connotations forethnic communities. Perhaps the most common example isthe use of the terms native and alien to describe the


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origin of plants (Fenton 1986). Even in an urban context,some professionals have adopted a philosophy that nativesare good and aliens are bad. Not only is this an inappro-priate classification for plants in the urban environment,

but these terms can easily be construed as offensive. Lessinsensitive and more appropriate terms can and should beused (Wong, no date).

Media coverage of the urban forestry program can domuch to shape public perception of it. While the mediaultimately decide how and what they chose to report, everyeffort should be made to encourage the promotion of asocially inclusive image. Television, radio, and newspapercoverage can all be used to show that people from ethnicbackgrounds can and do get involved in its communityevents and activities.

CONSULTATION

Consultation with the local community about issues relatingto the urban forest is essential to establish the perceptionsand preferences of different groups (Johnston 1989b).However, this exercise can be difficult with ethnic communi-ties that feel marginalized from mainstream communityactivity. Additional efforts beyond the norm should be madeto encourage the expression of views and opinions. Publicmeetings should be held at appropriate community centersand staffed by an interpreter, preferably from within thecommunity. Policy documents should be available inmultilingual versions to encourage comprehensive feedback.Local tree committees, which act as a forum for discussion

about urban forestry issues, should include representativesfrom the larger community organizations.While it is important to ensure that consultation exercises

are socially inclusive, the precise level of consultation needs tobe considered carefully. There is a danger of overconsultingabout trees with all communities living in economicallydepressed and neglected neighborhoods. Disadvantaged ethniccommunities may feel they are being overdosed on a subjectthat is not that significant in comparison to jobs, housing,crime, racism, etc. In some cases, there may be a reactionagainst the urban forestry program if this is seen as just anexcuse to avoid tackling the more important issues (Johnston1986). Therefore, it is vital to link the benefits of urban trees

with these more pressing economic and social issues on theresidents agenda.

PARTICIPATIONINPRACTICALEVENTSANDACTIVITIESA major aim of the community strategy is to connect peoplewith their trees and green spaces, both physically andpsychologically. For residents from ethnic communities thatfeel alienated from their immediate surroundings, thisconnection can be built by encouraging them to participatein specially designed open-air events and activities.

An excellent way to encourage an ethnic community toidentify more closely with its public open spaces is to holda multicultural festival in a local park. These festivalsinclude a wide range of activities, such as music, dance,

theater, and informal sports, designed to appeal to all agegroups. These entertaining and relaxing events give afavorable impression of the park and may encourageresidents to visit it on a more regular basis. A festival alsoallows all sections of the local community to come togetherto celebrate cultural diversity and interact socially. Inneighborhoods where one ethnic group forms a majorproportion of the population, the theme of the festival canfocus specifically on that culture. For these events, theremay be advantages in arranging them to coincide withspecial days in the cultural or religious calendar. A time ofgeneral celebration for the community is likely to attractmore interest in the event. However, when organizing any

event or activity, it is also important to be aware of con-straints that may come from specific cultural preferences orreligious beliefs.

Projects that link the arts and the environment allow forcultural expression within the context of an environmentalmessage, and are thus particularly appropriate for ethniccommunities. The British organization Common Groundhas pioneered a range of imaginative projects. For instance,on Tree Dressing Day, local residents and school childrendecorate and celebrate the living trees in parks, gardens,playgrounds, and other open spaces (Common Ground1993). This is actually a modern echo of an ancient custom

in many religions and cultures (Altman 2002).Community tree planting schemes are an invaluable wayto allow local residents to make personal imprints on theirlandscape. This can be particularly significant in neighbor-hoods where there are few private gardens. Involvingresidents in the design and establishment of these schemespromotes awareness and appreciation of the trees and mayalso reduce the risk of vandalism (Johnston 1985). Forethnic communities, the benefits are further enhanced ifsome of the species of trees come from their own country oforigin. Site conditions will obviously limit the scope for treeselection, but urban foresters and city planners can oftenaccommodate a wide range of appropriate trees. This idea

of promoting cultural identification with the trees andlandscape can be extended to the creation of culturalgardens. These are entire gardens in which the plants andlandscape design reflect a distinct cultural theme, giving thecommunity a familiar, friendly, and culturally expressiveneighborhood open space that is distinctly its own(Johnston 1989a; Agyeman 1995). Cultural gardens can bedesigned, established, and maintained by the residentsthemselves on derelict and vacant sites and also withinestablished parks, open spaces, and school grounds.


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diversity of the local community. There also needs to berecognition of this diversity by accommodating culturaldifferences in the workplace (Fonseca 2002). Not only isthis often a legal requirement to comply with fair employ-

ment and equal opportunities legislation, it is fundamentalto the promotion of a socially inclusive image. A recentstudy conducted throughout the United States has shownthat ethnic minorities are significantly under-represented inthe urban forestry workforce (Kuhns et al. 2002).

CONCLUSIONS

Urban foresters must respond to the challenges and opportu-nities of the multicultural society. An awareness of thesociological benefits of urban trees and forests should beaccompanied by an urban forestry strategy that effectivelyaddresses contemporary social issues such as social inclusionand the needs of disadvantaged ethnic communities. This

can be achieved through a community strategy that incorpo-rates education, consultation, and participation elementsspecifically designed to promote the involvement of distinctethnic groups. A long-term aim of the strategy should be toencourage these residents to plan and manage their owncommunity projects and initiatives.

LITERATURECITEDAgyeman, J. 1995. People, Plants and Places. Southgate

Publishers, Crediton, Devon, UK. 48 pp.Altman, N. 2002. Sacred Trees: Spirituality, Wisdom and Well-

Being. Sterling Publishing, London, England. 200 pp.

Berkin, C., C. Miller, R. Cherny, and J. Gormly. 1995.Making America: A History of the United States.Houghton Mifflin, New York, NY. 500 pp.

Berry, R. 1991. Celebrating diversity in urban forestry, pp233235. InProceedings of the Fifth National UrbanForest Conference. American Forests, Washington, DC.

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV). 2002.Environments for All. Baseline review of BTCVs workwith disadvantaged communities by Black EnvironmentNetwork. British Trust for Conservation Volunteers,Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK. 16 pp.

Brown, M., and J. Hanna (Eds.). 1996. Roots of the FutureEthnic Diversity in the Making of Britain. Commission for

Racial Equality, London, England. 133 pp.Burgess, J. 1995. Growing in Confidence. Understanding

Peoples Perception of Urban Fringe Woodland. CCP457. Countryside Agency, Cheltenham, England. 41 pp.

Commission for Racial Equality (CRE). 2002. Statutory Codeof Practice on the Duty to Promote Race Equality.Commission for Racial Equality, London. England. 76 pp.

Common Ground. 1993. Tree Dressing Day Times.Common Ground, London, England. 8 pp.

Fenton, J. 1986. Alien or native? ECOS 7(2):2030.

Fonseca, M. 2002 Cultural differences in the workplace.Arborist News 11(1):2122.

Fraser, E.D., and W.A. Kenney. 2000. Cultural backgroundand landscape history as factors affecting perceptions of

the urban forest. J. Arboric. 26(2):106112.Giddens, A. 2001. Sociology (4th ed.). Polity Press,

Cambridge, UK. 750 pp.Goodwin, K. 2002. Plant a tree, end isolation. The Big Issue

28 November4 December:2931Iles, J.K. 1998. Inclusive urban and community forestry

programs: Using all of your communitys culturalresources. J. Arboric. 24(6):316320.

Johnston, M. 1985. Community forestry: A sociologicalapproach to urban forestry. Arboric. J. 9:121126.

. 1986. Community forestry: A question ofpriorities. Arboric. J. 10:95100.

. 1989a. Glimpse of green in the Big Apple. Hortic.

Week 206(21):3233.. 1989b. Involving the public. In Hibbert, B. (Ed.).

Urban Forestry Practice. Forestry CommissionHandbook 11. HMSO, UK.

. 1994. Signposts to Peace. Hortic. Week216(19):2831.

. 1995. The Forest of Belfast: Healing theenvironment and the community. Arboric. J. 19:5372.

. 2001. A review of the Black Country Urban ForestMillennium Programme, 19952001. Arboric. J. 26:111139.

Keith, M. 1992. Race, Riots and Policing: Lore and Disorder

in a Multi-Racist Society. UCL Press, London. England.280 pp.Knox, P., and S. Pinch. 2000. Urban Social Geography: An

Introduction (4th ed.). Pearson Education, Harlow, UK.479 pp.

Kuhns, M., H. Bragg, and D. Blahna. 2002. Involvement ofwomen and minorities in the urban forestry profession.J. Arboric. 28(1):2731.

Kuo, F. 2003. The role of arboriculture in a healthy socialecology. J. Arboric. 29(3):148155.

Kuo, F.E., and W.C. Sullivan. 2001. Environment and crimein the inner city: Does vegetation reduce crime?Environ. Behav. 33(3):343367.

Loukaitou-Sideris, A. 1995. Urban form and context:Cultural differentiation in the uses of urban parks. J.Plann. Educ. Res. 14:89102.

Parris, L.R. 1991. The Hispanic perspective, pp 227229.In Proceedings of the Fifth National Urban ForestConference. American Forests, Washington, DC.

Pincetl, S. 2002. Race, class, ethnicity and park and openspace use: A literature review pointing to a need toreconceptualization. White paper, Sustainable CitiesProgram, University of California. 24 pp.


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Ricard, R.M. 1993. How important are minorities to treeprograms? University of Connecticut CommunityForestry Fact Sheet. West Hartford, CT. 3 pp

Rishbeth, C. 2002. The Landscape of the Global Village.

Landsc. Design 310:2730.Saltzstein, A. 2003. Governing Americas Urban Areas.

Wadsworth, Belmont, CA. 360 pp.Sando, J. 1991. The Native American viewpoint, pp 230

232. In Proceedings of the Fifth National Urban ForestConference. American Forests, Washington, DC.

Westphal, L. 2003. Urban greening and social benefits: Astudy of empowerment outcomes. J. Arboric.29(3):137147.

Wong, J. (no date). The Native and Alien IssueAdiscussion paper. Black Environment Network,Llanberis, Wales, UK. 5 pp.

. 2003. Power to the People. Landsc. Design

322:2831.

SOMEUSEFULWEBSITES

Black Environment Network

www.ben-network.org.uk

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers,Environments for All

www.btcv.org/efa

Commission for Racial Equality

www.cre.gov.uk

Common Ground

www.commonground.org.uk

Human Environment Research Laboratory

www.herl.uiuc.edu

Learning Through Landscapes

www.ltl.org.uk

Social Exclusion Unit, Office of the DeputyPrime Minister

www.socialexclusionunit.gov.uk

The Runnymede Trust

www.runnymedetrust.org

1*Arboriculture ProgrammeMyerscough CollegePrestonPR3 0RY

[email protected]

2Department of Environmental HealthHarvard School of Public Health665 Huntington Avenue, Building 1-1410Boston, MA 02115, U.S.

*Corresponding author.

Rsum. Le caractre multiculturel croissant de lasocit urbaine moderne cre des dfis et des opportunitspour le forestier urbain. Dans la stratgie du forestier urbain

pour rpondre de manire efficace aux problmes sociauxcontemporains, on se doit dinclure des politiques et desprogrammes qui font la promotion de linclusion sociale etde limplication des communauts ethniques dfavorises.Mme si les principes fondamentaux dimplication de lacommunaut sappliquent toujours, leur application se doitde reflter la diversit multiculturelle de chaque ville ouquartier. Des lments dducation, de consultation et departicipation dans la stratgie communautaire sont donnsau travers dun large ventail dvnements et dactivitsconus spcifiquement pour promouvoir linclusion socialeet lengagement des communauts ethniques.

Zusammenfassung. Der zunehmend multikulturelleCharakter moderner Stdte schafft Herausforderungen undGelegenheiten fr den Stadtforstbeauftragten. Fr dieurbane Forstwirtschaftsstrategie muss, um auf die zeit-genssischen gesellschaftlichen Fragen zu reagieren, diePolitik und Programme zur Integration benachteiligterethnischer Kommunen einschlieen. Dies kann durchverschiedene Strategien erreicht werden. Obwohl sich diewesentlichen Prinzipien der kommunalen Entwicklungnoch immer bewhren, muss ihre Anwendung die multi-kulturellen Unterschiede der individuellen Stadt oderNachbarschaft bercksichtigen. Die Ausbildung, Besprech-ung und Teilnahmebedingungen der kommunalen Strategie

werden durch ein breites Spektrum von Ereignissen und


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Aktivitten geliefert, die darauf zugeschnitten sind, sozialeEinbeziehung und Engagement ethnischer Gruppen zufrdern.

Resumen. El incremento del carcter multicultural de la

sociedad urbana moderna crea desafos y oportunidadespara el dasnomo urbano. Para la dasonoma urbana laestrategia para responder efectivamente al tejido socialcontemporneo, incluye en su mayora las polticas yprogramas que promuevan la inclusin social y el envol-vimiento de las comunidades tnicas en desventaja. Esto

puede ser logrado a travs de distintas estrategias comunit-arias. Aunque an se aplican los principios fundamentalesde envolvimiento de la comunidad, su implementacinnecesita el reflejo de la diversidad multicultural de la

ciudad individual o el vecindario. La educacin, consulta yparticipacin de los elementos de la comunidad son delibe-rados a travs de un rango amplio de eventos y actividadesespecficamente designados para promover la inclusinsocial y el compromiso de las comunidades tnicas.

urban forestry in a multicultural society

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