Walking around your neighborhood, do you see areas available for tree planting, street trees in need of maintenance, and neighbors who are concerned about their trees 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 Tree Plans.

Active community groups interested in trees 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 are 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 Tree Plan. The plan identifies the current status and health of neighborhood street trees and provides recommendations for neighborhood actions. This final product serves as a catalyst for neighborhood implementation.

More than just producing data and a tree plan, this project brings communities together. Participating in the tree inventory project is a great way to meet your neighbors and connect with others who value our green resources!