August 9, 2012

By David Nguyen

We’d like to share some great news! Data from a Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) aerial imagery study shows that Portland’s urban tree canopy has grown by 2.6 percent over the past 10 years, and now covers nearly 30% of the city.

The study is based on aerial imagery from 2000, 2005, and 2010, and reveals citywide and zoning class urban forest cover change.  Over a ten-year period, canopy increase was seen citywide, across all zoning classes.

This new report provides a baseline to approach the City’s goal of 33% urban tree canopy by 2030, and will be used to hone strategies addressing canopy losses and gains.

A 2009 study valued the ecological benefits of Portland's street and park trees at $27 million annually. 

Currently, Portland has approximately 240,000 street trees and PP&R will continue the efforts to plant more street trees and to care for the approximately 1.2 million trees throughout Portland’s parks.

The next monitoring phase will occur in 2015.

Click here to view the full canopy monitoring report.

Portland tree canopy spreading, study finds

James Mayer in The Oregonian

Tree canopy increases throughout Portland

On KPTV news