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 70 communities participate in the Tree City USA program.
If your community is interested in becoming a Tree City USA, please contact an Urban and Community Assistance Forester,
view the storymap about celebrating Oregon's Tree City USA communities, 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.
Tree City USA communities
April was proclaimed as Oregon Arbor Month for the first time in 2021. To mark the occasion, the Oregon Department of Forestry asked the state's 69 Tree City USA communities to send us a photo capturing the city's Tree City USA spirit. These same cities were asked the question, "What does earning Tree City USA recognition mean to your city?" With this information, we created what we believe is an inspiring and engaging story, combining images, text, and an interactive Oregon map. The storymap made its debut April 15 in the middle of Arbor Month.
View the storymap about celebrating Oregon's Tree City USA communities.