Saying Goodbye for the Season
In October, as neighborhood trees began to show their bright fall colors, the Tree Inventory Project wrapped up another year of data collection. Did you see our data collection team of Community Service Aides measuring trees in your neighborhood over the summer? The crew hit the streets from May to October to identify, map, and measure more than 87,000 trees in 29 neighborhoods. The data they collected contributes to the city’s GIS database of trees growing in the public right-of-way and in public parks.
2023 was the second year of a three-year project to map and collect data on neighborhood street trees citywide. This work updates Portland’s first formal inventory conducted between 2010 and 2016 by Urban Forestry staff and hundreds of dedicated volunteers. The initial inventory surveyed 220,000 street trees across the city. An update of the data helps Urban Forestry track change in the street tree population health and diversity over time.
The Inventory Project
The Tree Inventory Project gathers data on tree species, diameter, condition, and location, as well as information about the tree's planting site. Urban Forestry uses this data to track changes, analyze trends, and plan for the future. For example, a map of Portland’s ash trees created with Street and Park Inventory data helps locate and monitor ash trees in neighborhoods and citywide that are vulnerable to Emerald Ash Borer. The data is also used to plan planting and stewardship efforts and informs the Approved Street Tree Planting List. Interested in learning more about the street trees in your neighborhood? The Inventory map is publicly available on the Urban Forestry website
Stay Connected
Urban Forestry’s Science and Policy team is planning a Tree Summit in early 2024 to share findings from this year’s Tree Inventory. Stay tuned to future editions of Tree Bark for more details!
Mark your calendars for early 2024, when we will begin hiring next year’s crew of Community Service Aides for the Tree Inventory.