Meet a TreePerson: Yujuan Chen, Senior Manager of Urban Forestry Policy

Hi Treeps,

We’re all TreePeople — some of us just happen to work here.

Here’s our latest installment in our Meet a TreePerson series!

Today’s TreePerson is Yujuan Chen, Senior Manager of Urban Forestry Policy.

Yujuan Chen has a longstanding interest in urban forestry. Prior to joining TreePeople, Yujuan held a range of positions with the Urban Forest Ecosystems Lab at Virginia Tech, the Urban and Peri-urban Forestry Program at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Rome, Italy, and the Community Forestry Program at New Jersey State Forestry Services. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Forestry from Virginia Tech.

What is your favorite tree? Why?

My favorite tree is the Ginkgo. I love their unique fan-shaped leaves and gorgeous fall colors.

Where are you from originally? What makes it special?

I am originally from Bozhou which is the capital of traditional Chinese medicine in China.

What inspired you to join TreePeople?

I heard about TreePeople when I was studying in China several years ago. TreePeople’s mission of inspiring, engaging, and supporting people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment, making it safe, healthy, fun and sustainable and to share our process as a model for the world inspired me to join the organization. Now I am a proud TreePerson.

What’s your favorite TreePeople memory?

One of my favorite TreePeople memories is organizing the first urban forestry advocacy day, Rooted in Urban Forestry Day, at the Los Angeles City Hall last year.

What’s your favorite local outdoor space?

Coldwater Canyon Park

If you could have dinner with any person (living or dead) who would it be and why?

I’d like to have dinner with Rachel Carson who is the author of Silent Spring.

What’s your favorite environmental book? Why?

One of my favorite environmental books is The Hidden Life Of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. I like this book because it is a book for anyone who is interested in trees.

What’s your most-played song?

Recently, I just discovered this song called “City Dirt” by Urban Soil.

What’s your favorite home-cooked meal?

My mom’s fish

What’s a fun fact about yourself?

I lived in Rome, Italy for two years before joining TreePeople.

Los Angeles-based TreePeople is the region’s largest environmental movement, whose mission is to inspire, engage and support people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment. Visit us at treepeople.org and learn how you can join our cause.