Latest news
Arbor Day grant applications due Jan. 27
If your city has been recognized in Oregon as a Tree City USA for one year or more, is currently in good standing, and did not receive an Arbor Day grant last year, please consider giving your Arbor Day celebration a boost by applying for an
Arbor Day grant from Oregon Community Trees! Communities can request up to $500 to augment their Arbor Day celebrations. Deadline is Monday, Jan. 27. Here is the application form.
Urban and Community Forestry Conference seeks speakers
Mark your calendar for Thursday, June 4 to attend the
2020 Oregon Urban and Community Forestry Conference. The conference will again be at Portland's World Forestry Center. This year theme is
Water-Wise Community Forests: Strategies for Oregon's Future.
Organizers are looking for
compelling presenters for the conference. Proposals should focus on sharing results, lessons learned, and/or information about opportunities tools, best practices and resources. Of particular interest are speakers from small to medium-sized cities, from around the state, who can share practical tips and ideas. Time slots usually vary in length from 10 minutes to 45 minutes. Presentation ideas might include: best management practices for establishing trees during drought, dealing with trees after flooding, designing water-efficient irrigation systems to help establish trees, managing water via green infrastructure design, choosing drought resistant tree varieties, etc. If you would like to make a presentation, or know someone you think would be a good speaker, please fill out/ask them to fill out this
Call for Speakers form and submit it by
Friday, Jan. 17. The registration site will be available when we are closer to completing our speaker line-up.
Maynard Drawson Award nominations now open
Additionally,
The Oregon Heritage Tree Committee is always looking to recognize the work of dedicated “tree people," who unequivocally communicate their passion for trees in the work they do, through its
Maynard Drawson Award. And… if you know a tree that was a witness to Oregon history, please consider nominating it as a state heritage tree.
Here is the application form.
Photo:
Winter snow transforms this stretch of Portland's urban forest into a white wonderland. Careful pruning to ensure good structure can help trees withstand snow and ice better.
About urban forests
Urban forests are the trees in the cities and neighborhoods where we live. The urban forest includes trees along streets, in parks and natural areas, and in your own backyard.
Urban forests provide many important environmental, social, and economic benefits and services too.
Urban forestry is the care and management of these trees in cities. Many cities have an urban forestry or other tree care program that manages trees along city streets and in parks.
ODF's Urban and Community Forestry Program provides assistance to communities committed to their urban trees, or looking to improve and expand their urban forestry programs. Contact an Urban and Community Assistance Forester to learn how your city can become more involved in urban forestry activities.
Arbor Day is America's National Tree Holiday. It’s the day set aside to plant ceremonial trees, educate children about the importance of trees and honor the important role trees play in our daily lives. National Arbor Day is always celebrated on the last Friday in April, but many states observe Arbor Day on different dates throughout the year based on best tree-planting times in their area.
In Oregon, we traditionally set aside the first full calendar week in April to honor trees.
For more information on Arbor Day or to plan a celebration, visit the Arbor Day Foundation or contact your local Urban and Community Assistance Forester.
The Tree City USA program is a national program that provides the framework for community forestry management for cities and towns across America.
Communities achieve Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management:
- Maintaining a tree board or department
- Having a community tree ordinance
- Spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry
- Celebrating Arbor Day
Participating communities have demonstrated a commitment to caring for and managing their public trees. In Oregon, nearly 60 communities participate in the Tree City USA program.
List of Tree City USA communities in Oregon
If your community is interested in becoming a Tree City USA, please contact an Urban and Community Assistance Forester or visit the Arbor Day Foundation website.
Tree Campus USA
The Arbor Day Foundation also recognizes college and university campuses committed to their green space through the Tree Campus USA program. Tree Campus USA schools:
- Effectively manage their campus trees
- Develop a connection with their community beyond campus borders to foster healthy, urban forests
- Strive to engage their student population with campus and community forestry efforts
Learn more about becoming a Tree Campus USA from the Arbor Day Foundation.
A Tree Board, sometimes called “Tree Advisory Committee” or “Tree Commission,” is a group of citizen volunteers charged by ordinance with developing, guiding, or administering a community tree management program. A Tree Board advises and assists city professionals by:
- Raising public awareness and public education about the value of trees
- Serving as a technical advisor on tree related issue
- Helping work on city tree care codes or a management plan
- Advocating for trees
- Promote Heritage Tree programs
- Organizing tree planning projects and Arbor Day ceremonies
Cities with Tree City USA status already have a Tree Board of some sort.
If your city is not already a Tree City USA, consider starting a Tree Board in your town by contacting your mayor or city manager. Also consider attending "Tree Board University," a free, online series of courses to help you learn more about serving in a citizen advisory role in your city.