Dr. Mayra I. Rodríguez González

Extension Urban Forester | Resident Faculty in Research on Resilient Cities, Racism and Equity

Connecticut Cooperative Extension System | UConn Hartford

---

I am the State Extension Urban Forester for Connecticut, specializing in participatory research, geospatial analysis, and culturally responsive approaches to environmental challenges. With an interdisciplinary background in Urban Ecology, Landscape Ecology and Socio-ecological Systems research, my work bridges science, policy, and community action to expand access to natural resources.

In my two years as an Extension Forester at UConn and as lead of the Urban and Community Forestry Extension Program, my team has partnered with over 40 organizations, led tree canopy and climate resilience planning efforts across 12 cities, advised 162 decision-makers, trained 2,603 practitioners, guided 120 landowners, and engaged 1,212 community members and 995 youth in forestry initiatives. Through community engagement, conservation education, and co-governance strategies, we strive to cultivate sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient urban landscapes.

If you’re interested in collaborating with the Urban and Community Forestry group at UConn, please reach out using the contact information provided on this page.

 

 

Soy la Agente Estatal de Extensión Agrícola en Forestería Urbana y Comunitaria de Connecticut. Me especializo en la investigación participativa, el análisis geoespacial y los enfoques culturalmente receptivos para abordar los desafíos ambientales. Con una formación interdisciplinaria en Ecología Urbana, Ecología del Paisaje e investigación de Sistemas Socio-ecológicos, mi trabajo conecta la ciencia, las políticas regulatorias y la acción comunitaria para ampliar el acceso a los recursos naturales.

En mis dos años como docente en UConn y como líder del Programa de Extensión de Forestería Urbana y Comunitaria, mi equipo ha establecido colaboraciones con más de 40 organizaciones, liderado esfuerzos de planificación del dosel arbóreo y resiliencia climática en 12 ciudades, asesorado a 162 responsables de la toma de decisiones, capacitado a 2,603 profesionales, guiado a 120 propietarios de tierras y comprometido a 1,212 miembros de la comunidad y 995 jóvenes en iniciativas de forestería urbana. A través de la participación comunitaria, la educación en conservación y estrategias de co-gobernanza, nos esforzamos por fomentar paisajes urbanos sostenibles, inclusivos y resilientes al clima.

Si estás interesado en colaborar con el grupo de Forestería Urbana y Comunitaria de UConn, comunícate utilizando la información de contacto proporcionada en esta página.

 

 

---

Selected Publications / Publicaciones Seleccionadas

 

Research Articles / Artículos de Investigación

Eyster, H. N., Rodríguez González, M. I., & Gould, R. K. 2024. Green gentrification and the luxury effect: Uniting isolated ideas towards just cities for people and nature. Ecosystems and People, 20(1), 2399621. https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2024.2399621 

Rodríguez González, M. I. 2024. Applying the 5Ps of Cultural Ecosystem Services for Urban Agricultural and Natural Resources Programming. The Journal of Extension, 62(3), 26. https://open.clemson.edu/joe/vol62/iss3/26 

Rodríguez González, M. I., & Torres Garrido, K. G. 2023. Geospatial data analytics for equitable forest resource management. Water and Environmental Sustainability. 4(2), 20-27. https://doi.org/10.52293/WES.4.2.2027

Rodríguez González, M. I., Scott, C. K., Marquina, T., Mewa, D. B., García Polo, J., & Peng, B. 2023. Integration of the Livelihood and Ecosystem Services Frameworks—A Case Study on Urban Agriculture in Mexico City. Earth Interactions. https://doi.org/10.1175/EI-D-22-0010.1

Rodríguez González, M. I., Pijanowski, B., Fahey, R., & Hardiman, B. S. 2022. The role of conserved and managed land in ecosystem service inequity. Landscape and Urban Planning, 227, 104516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104516

 

 

Technical Reports / Reportes Técnicos

Rodríguez González, M. I. 2024. Narrativas de Cambio: Latino Stories for Climate and Environmental Justice. UConn Extension, for UConn El Instituto: Institute of Latina/o, Caribbean, and Latin American Studies. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.14998.05442 

Rodríguez González, M. I., Marquina, T., & Díaz Flores, R. 2023. The Cost of Green Strategies: Reconciling environmental objectives with social needs. UConn Extension. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.13026.24008

Rodríguez González, M. I., Fernandez, M., L., & Thompson, J. 2022. Land management and equity: Environmental justice principles for land conservation. Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.12403.64808 

Safavi, N., Coolidge, B., O’Neil-Dunne, J., & Rodríguez González, M. I. 2022. Tree Canopy Assessment: Hamilton County, OH. Cincinnati Area Geographic Information System, Cincinnati Park Board Urban Forestry Program, and the Metropolitan Sewer District. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15542.82243 

Safavi, N., Coolidge, B., O’Neil-Dunne, J., & Rodríguez González, M. I. 2022. Tree Canopy Assessment: Cincinnati, OH. Cincinnati Area Geographic Information System, Cincinnati Park Board Urban Forestry Program, and the Metropolitan Sewer District. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18898.26563