(Portland, OR) –
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is excited to invite the community to continue to participate in redeveloping the City of Portland’s Draft Urban Forest Plan.
The Portland Urban Forest Plan is the guiding document for the City’s tree management. It sets the City’s urban forest vision, goals, and tree canopy targets. It is the City’s roadmap for protecting, preserving, restoring, and expanding the urban forest equitably and sustainably.
The last update to the plan was back in 2004, so it’s time for a fresh vision. Portland Parks & Recreation is grateful for the opportunity to partner with the community, City Council, and City leadership to update this important document to meet the needs and expectations of the community.
Once the City Council approves the plan, it will be Portland’s blueprint for a greener, healthier city. It will focus on equitable, sustainable tree care and expanding our tree canopy. It’s about making trees and nature accessible to everyone while improving public health, safety, and overall livability.
“We’re focusing on what we’ve heard from Portlanders,” says PP&R Director Adena Long. “Trees are vital for public health, and we want the best strategy based on what we’ve heard and studied. And that includes reducing tree care costs for community members.”
The draft Plan comes packed with a forward-thinking vision and community-focused goals. Action-oriented, it includes recommendations, strategies, and annual progress tracking. The plan will guide efforts to preserve existing trees, maintain them better, reduce tree care costs, create more tree-friendly spaces, spread tree care knowledge, and update City codes. It’s all about making Portland’s urban forest improve the lives of current Portland residents and future generations.
“The Portland Urban Forest Plan will help the City respond to community concerns in a comprehensive and meaningful way,” says City Forester Jenn Cairo. “It will help us fight climate change, cool down the city, and improve air quality through expanding our urban forest.”
Stay Involved and Share Your Voice!
There are two great ways to give your feedback this winter. You can attend an open house to speak with the project team in person or check out the draft online and submit your comments virtually.
The public comment period will stay open for nearly two months, expected to start in late February 2025.
Join Us at the Open House and Learn More!
• When: Wednesday, February 26, from 5:30 to 7 pm
• Where: The June Key Delta Community Center, 5940 N Albina Avenue
It’s a drop-in event, to swing review the draft plan, the vision and goals, and share your thoughts with the team. Everyone is welcome; feel free to bring family, friends, and neighbors. We’ll have interpretation services and light refreshments for all.
PP&R will use your feedback to help finalize the plan. For more information or to sign up for updates, visit the Portland Urban Forest Plan website at www.portland.gov/trees/portland-urban-forest-plan
Project Timeline
This project is right on track! PP&R kicked it off in fall 2023, and we’re aiming for City Council adoption by spring 2025.
Project Background
We’re updating the 2004 Urban Forest Management Plan with fresh ideas and the latest data, including input from the Urban Forest Action Plan (2007), Growing a More Equitable Urban Forest: A Citywide Tree Planting Strategy (2018), Healthy Parks, Healthy Portland (2023), findings from the City’s tree inventories, and other City of Portland initiatives. This project is a team effort, with support from the community over the last 18 months and input from multiple City bureaus and regional agencies.
We’ve worked with diverse voices from people of all ages and backgrounds and advisory groups. The Urban Forestry Commission and the project’s community advisory committee provided ongoing guidance throughout the project. Staff also discussed the project with other advisory groups, including the Multnomah Youth Commission, Planning Commission, Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and the Portland Freight Advisory Committee.
About PP&R’s Urban Forestry Division
The mission of PP&R’s Urban Forestry division is to manage and care for Portland's urban forest infrastructure. Our urban forest consists of more than 250,000 street trees, 1.2 million park trees, and about 2.9 million private property trees valued at over $6 billion. Some of the services that PP&R’s Urban Forestry staff provide include creating and implementing the City's Urban Forest Plan; fostering community awareness and stewardship of trees; developing tree policies and programs; monitoring and assessing the urban forest; issuing permits for planting, pruning, and removal of public and some private trees. PP&R’s Urban Forestry staff are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to respond to tree emergencies on City property.
Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) Support for Portland Urban Forest Plan Action Items
The Portland Urban Forest Plan builds on the critical tree-related programs from the City’s latest Climate Investment Plan to expand our tree canopy and improve community resilience to climate change. Some PCEF programs included in the Plan’s implementation strategy include the Equitable Tree Canopy, Tree Protection and Care, Tree Canopy Maintenance Reserve, and Arborist Trainee programs. Implementing these programs is vital to responding to community priorities identified during the planning process and achieving the vision and goals of the Portland Urban Forest Plan.
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