The Emerald Necklace Conservancy works with our public partners to assess, inventory, and prune all major trees throughout the 1,100-acre park network. This work is conducted by certified arborists, and the data are collected in the Conservancy’s digital records to conduct long-term assessments and follow up on projects. More than 13,500 trees have been inventoried through this combined effort. Pruning keeps trees healthy and encourages long life. Pruning projects allow our team to focus only on the trees that need work—removing dead or damaged branches that can be hazardous to the trees and people. Pruning trees also encourages them to develop a stronger structure and a more aesthetic form, while allowing clearances to be maintained for roads, paths, and park accessibility. Pruning also reduces the occurrence of leaf disease by allowing better airflow through the canopy, prepares trees for winter storms and changing climate conditions, and allows trees to coexist more easily with understory plants. The Conservancy works with certified arborists, community volunteers, and our public partners to plant trees throughout the Emerald Necklace. We have planted more than 400 trees since the Olmsted Tree Society's creation, and are working to plant and maintain more trees throughout the parks—as determined by community interest, canopy needs, and requests from our public partners. Urban trees endure a lot of stress—including salt exposure, soil compaction and depleted nutrients. To help mitigate this stress, Conservancy provides water and follow-up care throughout the first years of establishment for newly planted trees. This entails watering 200-250 trees per week throughout the summer months with our specialized watering truck. This program ensures that any trees we plant in the parks receive regular water and care—catered to each tree’s specific needs.