TreePeopleAndy Lipkis is a practical visionary who has dedicated his life to healing the environment while improving the lives of individuals and communities. He founded TreePeople in Los Angeles in 1973 at age 18 and continues to serve as its President. Andy has spearheaded an approach using trees and forest-inspired technologies to make cities sustainable while mitigating floods, drought, pollution, and climate change. Called “Functioning Community Forests,” it is being demonstrated in L.A. as a model for cities everywhere.
Just 3 months after the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, I took my first steps on the path to found TreePeople. I was 15, and what I learned was captivating and urgent. I’d experienced years of air pollution burning my lungs, growing up in Los Angeles; but it was at an Earth Day…
Dear Friends, The national election has left our country dangerously divided and vulnerable to climate change’s growing, deadly impacts like drought, heat, flooding, and fires. We now face efforts to dismantle progress made to fight climate change and protect our environment. So, for everyone ready to unite and stand up for a better climate, we…
You can’t care about trees without caring about water. The two are intimately connected. That’s why TreePeople has been committed to take rainwater harvesting to scale for over 20 years. Rainwater can and should be a significant part of our water supply. Each month, hundreds of people attend our workshops and install rain tanks at…
A few years back, a colleague received a frantic call from his wife in California while we were overseas. A brush fire was bearing down on their house. Worse yet, she wasn’t home and their pets were trapped. Fortunately, the house was spared and the pets were safe. However, in that moment, their lack of preparation had them…
An Urgent Arbor Day Message from TreePeople Founder and President, Andy Lipkis As I drive through LA this beautiful spring my heart is breaking. In every street, in every block, I see trees in decline. This is a quiet crisis, and it’s accelerating. Earlier this month I sat in a presentation by the Urban Forester…
LA has the capability to truly be livable, resilient and water-secure if we work together, and TreePeople is proud to partner with the people to make this vision a reality. We can adapt in the face of our changing climate, but we must support enabling policies while also being change makers in our own homes. Read…
Yesterday California Governor Jerry Brown issued the first mandatory water restrictions in response to our state’s historic drought. As this drought deepens and worsens and fears rise, it’s important to know that another country faced a very similar threat: Australia endured a devastating 12-year drought from 1997 – 2010. Because they have similar climate, and…
Statement from Andy Lipkis, Founder and President of TreePeople, calls on Angelenos to rip out concrete and plant trees to capture what rainfall LA gets. LOS ANGELES, Calif.– TreePeople heard fighting words when news reports showed an anti-tree group calling themselves “Save Our Concrete” holding a protest at a downtown Los Angeles parking lot earlier today….
Water scarcity is certainly a worldwide issue, but we in LA know the seriousness of it. Did you know that California has only about one year of water supply left in its reservoirs? The good news is that our city is getting serious about creating a local, reliable water supply – and TreePeople is helping…
Happy Earth Week! We celebrated Earth Day yesterday, and everywhere you look spring is in full bloom, which can only mean one thing: it’s Mother Nature’s time to shine! To honor her and our planet, our founder Andy Lipkis is sharing some of his best simple sustainable solutions — from his home to yours — right…
Earlier this month we told you that in honor of Earth Day (April 22nd), we’d be sharing our founder Andy Lipkis’ simple sustainable suggestions — from his home to yours — right here on our blog throughout April. Last week we brought you Andy’s first tip: how and why to maintain your yard and garden with…
You’re probably well aware that April 22nd is Earth Day, but did you know that the entire month of April pays tribute to our planet? Around here, we’re making it easier than ever to honor Mother Nature and grow a greener city. Starting right here, right now, each week we’ll offer a new simple sustainable suggestion from…