| Street Tree Inventories and Neighborhood Stewardship Plans
Walking around your neighborhood, do you see areas available for tree planting, street trees in need of maintenance, and neighbors who are concerned but don't know where to begin? Urban Forestry is helping Portlanders take action to improve their community's street trees by conducting tree inventories and creating Neighborhood Stewardship Plans.
Active community groups interested in the cause begin by gathering volunteers to help conduct a street tree inventory. Volunteers are guided by Urban Forestry staff, who provide training, tools, and event organization. Together, information is collected on tree species, size, health, site conditions, and available planting spaces. Data is analyzed by Urban Forestry staff, and findings are presented to neighborhood stakeholders. Achievable strategies are set by the collective body to improve existing trees, identify opportunities for an expanding tree canopy, and connect the neighborhood with city and nonprofit resources. The result is a Neighborhood Stewardship Plan. The plan identifies the current status and health of neighborhood street trees and provides recommendations for neighborhood action. This final product serves as a catalyst for neighborhood implementation.
The first results are in!
In 2010 and 2011, 165 volunteers gave 1,800 hours inventorying nearly 25,000 trees throughout Portland. Read the final reports:
What's next for these neighborhoods?
Neighborhoods are now in the process of creating a Neighborhood Tree Plan.
How can I get involved?
If you live in Concordia, Eastmoreland, Kenton, Overlook, Sellwood-Moreland, or St Johns, join your neighborhood's tree team. Contact information is listed in the inventory reports. Residents work together with their neighborhood associations to improve the trees in their communities. This may involve education, outreach, planting new trees, maintaining existing trees, and replacing dead trees.
How can I conduct an inventory in my neighborhood?
Interested in an inventory and Neighborhood Tree Plan? Urban Forestry is currently seeking communities to conduct tree inventories in 2012. To learn more about the application process and requirements, download the application. Applications are due by January 16, 2012.
Why inventory your street trees?
There are many reasons why a group should consider inventorying trees in their neighborhood. Each tree inventory is customized to capture the requested data and to meet the goals of the group. While your group may already have a few goals in mind, Urban Forestry will help solidify goals early in the process to ensure that the appropriate data is collected, propose a practical timeline, and staff appropriately.
A tree inventory can help your group meet the following goals:
- Determine the location, species, size, and health of trees.
- Identify locations to plant new trees.
- Increase awareness of the important role trees play in making urban environments more livable.
- Engage residents to help care for and protect existing trees.
- Develop a Neighborhood Stewardship Plan.
- Forge a partnership with Urban Forestry.
Following a tree inventory, each requesting group receives the following:
- Custom site maps and excel sheets illustrating the findings
- Detailed analysis addressing the goals and recommended next steps
- Urban Forestry pledges to continue working with your group to meet their tree goals through the creation of a Neighborhood Stewardship Plan.
Funding
This project is supported by a grant from the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and PP&R Urban Forestry.
Questions?
Contact Angie DiSalvo at angie.disalvo@portlandoregon.gov
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