Applications

Why inventory?

Application assistance

Applications for tree inventories and tree plans are due January 15th annually

Download the application

Thank you for your interest in conducting a street tree inventory and completing a neighborhood tree plan. A tree inventory and tree plan are long term projects, and require a dedicated group of community members to organize and work together. Planning, inventory, analysis, tree plan creation, and follow through activities will take two years to complete.

The project will will require the following from selected communities:

• Attending a planning workshop to learn how to recruit volunteers, create your team, conduct the inventory, and create your tree plan

• Planning three to four inventory collection days in your community. Your group will be responsible for securing an event location, recruiting 20 volunteers per collection day, and recruiting a volunteer arborist.

• Attend “Team Leader” training with volunteers to learn to conduct the tree inventory

• Attend a post-inventory meeting to receive results and create a tree plan

• Present results to the neighborhood and receive their feedback

• Conduct follow-up stewardship activities to meet Tree Plan goals

 PP&R Urban Forestry will help you in this process by providing:

• Training for inventory organizers

• Access to a project manager for questions and concerns

• General publicity and recruitment on Parks website, blog, newsletters, and social media

• Registration website for each work day

• Training on tree identification and inventory methods for team leaders

• A workshop leader, training, and supplies for each inventory work day

• Data entry, analysis and recommendations, final report and maps

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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 Tree 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 inventory 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.

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To help prepare a strong application, Urban Forestry offers applicants the following suggestions:

• Seek out a group of neighbors who are also interested in urban forestry issues, and work together to commit to the project. An inventory is only one part of the project, and is followed by the creation of a Neighborhood Stewardship Plan. To be successful, this requires a group of committed citizens within the community to work together to accomplish tree-related goals to improve the urban forest.
• Contact your neighborhood association and seek their support of the project. Encourage them to pass a resolution stating support and form a committee to assist you.
• Recruit neighbors and sign up together for Urban Forestry's Neighborhood Tree Steward course. This 7 session course is offered each fall in September and October and is an excellent opportunity to network with other volunteers conducting tree projects in their neighborhoods. More information is available on the Parks website at www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/trees.
• Participate in the inventory work days that will be held in summer 2013. This will give you a good idea of how the inventory is conducted, and may help you to recruit others to help with your community.

We appreciate your interest in the program and look forward to seeing your application!

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