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| URBAN FORESTRY |
January 2020, published twice a month
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| What Changes to Portland's Tree Code Mean for You
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| Trees get a lot of attention in Portland for their beauty and the services they provide. When they are cut down, many people wonder what they can do to make sure that the future has large trees for everyone.
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| Portlanders like you sent a clear message to City Council: Protect big trees! Large trees are a necessity, not a luxury, and cutting them down affects the entire community. This is the core of the large tree amendment to Portland’s Tree Code.
In 2016, City Council added protections for large trees during private development to Portland's Tree Code. These changes were set to expire in 2019. City Council recently extended the protections until 2024. Here are a few highlights:
- Preserve all qualifying trees 36 inches in diameter or larger, or pay a fee
- No longer charge a flat fee for all trees that are removed
- Increase the fee for trees 36 inches in diameter or larger, the current fee is $450 per inch
What does this mean for you? In your neighborhood and around town, you may see more large trees that remain during private development projects. And when they are removed, the money collected from the fees will help plant trees where we need them the most.
You may one day enjoy the shade of a tree that was preserved or planted because of this amendment.
City Council directed several City agencies, including Urban Forestry, to continue to work on future projects that will update and strengthen the Tree Code. These projects are meant to ensure that everyone will have access to large, healthy trees, now and in the future. Read more perspectives on the changes here:
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| Upcoming EventsOpportunities to learn and volunteer!
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Winter 2020 Neighborhood Tree Steward ClassMarch 14, 21, and 28, 2020, 9 am - 2:30 pmLocation: East Portland Community CenterApplications Due: February 1, 2020
Are you ready to gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be a steward of Portland’s urban forest? The Neighborhood Tree Steward ( NTS) Program trains participants to care for our community trees. The program is three days, and is full of hands-on and interactive learning experiences. Stewards learn about Portland's urban forest, proper tree planting, tree regulations, and how trees are providing services that are necessary to the well-being of all Portlanders.
Space is limited in this popular program. Applicants will be notified in mid to late February of acceptance. Apply online here!
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Fix-It Fair Tabling with Urban ForestrySaturday, February 29, 2020, 9:30 am - 2:30 pmLocation: Floyd Light Middle School
Want to talk trees with your neighbors? We need volunteers for Urban Forestry's first tabling event of the year!
Join us at the upcoming Fix-It Fair at Floyd Light Middle School. At this event we will answer questions about trees and help people sign up to get a free tree for their yard!
If you would like to help, register here!
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More Upcoming Events
2/01/2020, Irvington Tree Walk, Tree Size Matters: Are all trees equal? What are the benefits of big trees? Using Irvington's trees as examples, Jim Gersbach from the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Concordia Tree Team will explore why tree size matters in meeting Portland's climate change canopy goals. Meet at Caffe Destino, 1339 NE Fremont St. ( map). The walk will be from 10:00 am to noon. Register here.
2/07/2020, Inland Tree and Landscape Conference: Join arborists, landscape architects, and other green industry professionals for a full day of intermediate and advanced workshops. This conference features Dr. Ed Gilman, author of "An Illustrated Guide to Pruning." Workshop topics include: Designing Sites to Fit Desirable Trees, Planting Specifications and Details, and Tree Biomechanics. The conference takes place at Spokane Community College. For more information and to register, click here.
2/29/2020, Leap Year Tree Walk: Spend your extra day this February with trees that break the rules! On this walk, we will explore trees that do not follow the annual cycles that we expect from trees. Broadleaf evergreens, two-year cycles of acorns, the shedding of needles, and more will be discussed. Meet at the parking lot at Knott Park, NE Russell St. and NE 112th Ave. The walk will be from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Register here.
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| Pop-up Arboretums are a pop-ular way to explore the trees in Portland's parks. Make sure to visit your local Pop-up before it is gone!
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There are over 300 different kinds of trees in Portland’s parks! How many of them can you identify? Whether the answer is none, or all three hundred, you can discover the trees in your local park in a whole new way using the Park Tree Inventory.
After you learn about the trees in your local park, share your favorite tree finds with neighbors and friends this summer by getting a Pop-Up Arboretum installed!
2020 will be the third year of our Pop-Up Arboreta program. An arboretum is a collection of trees that have a purpose – and our purpose is to share the trees in Portland’s parks with everyone who passes by.
If your Tree Team is interested in having a Pop-Up Arboretum in your local park, please complete an interest form, available here. Interest forms are due by March 31, 2020.
When you see big green signs on park trees this year, snap a picture and tag it on social media. Use the hashtag #popuppdx to follow where the Arboreta are, and what new trees are waiting to be discovered!
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In Other News
Trees, Heat Islands, and Discrimination: Areas that do not have trees are measurably hotter than places that do have trees, according to a recent study. Due to historical practices, dangerous heat levels tend to occur where there are "...mostly lower-income households and communities of color..." Read more about the racist history of heat islands here.
How Do Conifers Survive Drought? Without the ability to see underground, the question of why some trees survive during drought when others do not, has frustrated tree researchers. A new scientific model was set up to explore whether existing roots or growing new roots had an impact on survival during drought conditions. Read the results of the study here.
Now Hiring! Youth Conservation Crew (YCC) Crew Leaders: Winter is a great time to think about your ideal summer job! At YCC, Crew Leaders enjoy a balance between daily leadership opportunities and being part of a supportive team. Get a foot in the door of your future career by meeting environmental professionals, building your skills, and guiding teens in important outdoor work. Apply by March 2, 2020 for priority consideration. Find details here.
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