Providence Launches Paid Urban Forestry Program for Local Residents

Providence’s tree canopy is getting a community-powered boost, and this time, local residents are leading the charge. The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) is now accepting applications for Nuestros Bosques (Our Forests), a bilingual, paid urban forestry program that grows Providence’s tree canopy while training neighbors to become stewards of their own communities 

WRWC will launch Nuestros Bosques as a 10-week paid learning opportunity for adults living in the 02908 and 02909 zip codes, including Olneyville, Manton, Mount Pleasant, and surrounding areas. Participants earn $25 per hour, and the program provides snacks and childcare during class sessions, removing some of the most common barriers to workforce training 

All classes and activities run in both Spanish and English, and the program strongly encourages Spanish- and English-speaking residents to apply.

“Our goal is to put trees where they’re needed most while building local leadership,” said Layla Farahbakhsh, Nuestros Bosques program coordinator at WRWC. “Trees protect streambanks, cool neighborhoods, reduce flooding, and improve health. This program doesn’t just plant trees – it grows skills, confidence, and stronger communities” 

The program centers on neighborhoods that experience higher temperatures, increased flooding, and limited access to green space. Over the next three years, WRWC plans to build dense, native Miyawaki-style pocket forests along and near the Woonasquatucket River Greenway, train approximately 50 community members as tree stewards, and expand green infrastructure that supports biodiversity while reducing stormwater runoff 

Graduates leave with more than new knowledge. After completing the program, participants can continue earning stipends through tree plantings, stewardship events, and other urban forestry projects. WRWC supports this work with a strong network of local partners who already care for more than 300 trees along the Greenway and plan to expand those efforts in the coming years Applications are due Monday, February 2. For more information or to apply, visit the WRWC.org and complete the Nuestros Bosques interest form to help grow Providence’s future, one tree at a time.