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| URBAN FORESTRY |
December 2019, published twice a month
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| Holiday Closure Dates at the Urban Forestry Permit Center
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| Portland’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony presented by SmartPark, produced by Pioneer Courthouse Square, Inc.
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| It is that time of year again! Daily routines are adjusted as City holidays are observed, and we want our readers to be informed about upcoming schedule changes.
Due to City of Portland holiday closures, Urban Forestry will be unavailable at the Permit Center on the following dates:
- December 24, 25, and 31, 2019
- January 1 and 20, 2020
Walk-in Service
Development Services Center (Permit Center)
1900 SW 4th Ave., 1st Floor, Portland, OR 97201 ( map)
Urban Forestry Walk-in Service Hours (Beginning 12/19/2019)
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm
- Tuesday: 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm
- Thursday: CLOSED
Mailing address
PP&R Urban Forestry Division
1900 SW 4th Ave., Suite 5000
Portland, OR 97201
For information about online submittal of applications, please see instructions located here.
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| Upcoming EventsOpportunities to learn and volunteer!
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Winter Fruit Tree PruningSaturday, January 18, 2020, 9:00 am to noon East Delta Park Orchard, 10910 N Denver Ave. (map)
Are you interested in learning how to prune fruit trees?
Urban Forestry planted a demonstration orchard outside of our North Portland office in 2010. The orchard includes 55 diverse fruit and nut trees, from the traditional apples, pears, and cherries to paw paws, persimmons, jujubes, mulberries, and medlars.
These young trees are now ready for their winter pruning. This is a great opportunity for beginners to learn fruit tree pruning basics or for veterans to sharpen their skills.
Register here. (Only six spots left!)
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Irvington Tree Walk - Tree Size MattersSaturday, February 1, 2020, 10:00 am to noon Caffe Destino, 1339 NE Fremont St. (map)
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.
This fun and informational guided tree walk is hosted by the Irvington Tree Team. All are welcome! Please wear closed-toe shoes and dress for the weather. This event will be held rain or shine.
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More Upcoming Events
12/14/2019, Two Events: Bird Walk for Beginners and Habitat Enhancement: Johnson Creek Watershed Council (JCWC) has upcoming events in December and January to get you outside and active in our Portland Parks. Bird Walk for Beginners is free and starts at 8:30 am and ends at 10:00 am. Meet at the Manor House at Leach Botanical Garden. Habitat Enhancement is a separate event that follows the Bird Walk. It begins at 10:00 am and goes until 1:00 pm. Learn more about JCWC and see more of their upcoming events here.
1/25/2020, 2/1/2020, 4/1/2020, PP&R Nature Patch Plantings: Portland Parks & Recreation is planning a nature patch at Columbia Park and Lents Park. These projects aim to improve habitat for birds and pollinators, add interesting natural features to explore, and create places to enjoy. These new natural landscapes will include lots of flowering native plants, logs, boulders, and gravel paths throughout. Learn more, then sign up for a planting day here!
2020, Save the Date! Tree Team Gathering: Postponed until the new year!
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| Why are Western Redcedar Dying?
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| Yellowing leaves on a western redcedar are a sign of decline. Thin canopies, like the one shown on the redcedar to the right, are often obvious when compared with full canopies of nearby conifers like the Douglas-fir to the left. Photos by C. Buhl.
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A guest article from Christine Buhl, PhD, Forest Entomologist | Oregon Department of Forestry*
From Oregon through Vancouver B.C., Canada there has been a decline in western redcedar (Thuja plicata) trees. And the Oregon Department of Forestry needs your help in identifying groups of them!
- Location (address, latitude/longitude)
- Approximate acreage of decline area
IMPORTANT: we are looking for GROUPS of declining cedar in spaces such as parks, NOT single trees located in a yard.
Areas where western redcedar are dying are often in noticeable clumps, which means you may have already seen them. These areas are locations where we would expect redcedar to be healthy, such as along streams and sheltered by other trees. So far, no insect or disease agent has been identified. It is possible that these trees are being impacted by a changing climate that includes drought stress, even along streams.
Symptoms of decline include:
- Yellowing leaves
- Thin, unhealthy looking canopies
- Multiple dead branches (but not branches containing newer green needles and older dead needles, as this is normal)
We are asking for your help in identifying sites of decline to determine the distribution and spread of this issue, as well as to establish monitoring sites. Thank you!
*An entomologist studies insects. A day in the life of an ODF entomologist can include investigating good and bad insect activity on street trees and in our forests. They may also assess tree damage from a plane in aerial surveys, set insect monitoring traps, identify insects in the lab, and provide training on tree and forest stand management. Learn more and watch a forest flyover video on the ODF website here.
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In Other News
A Holiday Book List for the Tree Lover: Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) featured the book 'The Overstory' by Richard Powers in their November book club. This book about trees was a New York Times Best Seller and won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in fiction! The author created a list of 26 more books all about trees, check it out here.
Oregon's 10 Most Endangered Places of 2019: Yes, this is another top 10 list, but number five is Mt. Hood National Forest, where 12,000 acres are proposed for logging. As a popular recreational area for many Portlanders, you are encouraged to do some research of your own and keep an informed eye on future forest plans. Read the top 10 list here, and more information about why it is on the list here. Review the Crystal Clear Restoration Project on the US Forest Service website here.
‘Turn Off the Sunshine’: Why Shade Is a Mark of Privilege in Los Angeles: The New York Times recently featured an article on why access to trees, and the shade they provide, is an equity issue. From the article, "As the world warms, the issue of shade has drawn more attention from urban planners. The writer Sam Bloch...called shade 'an index of inequality, a requirement for public health, and a mandate for urban planners and designers.' " Read the article here.
Urban Forestry Fellowship Deadline is Approaching: The Garden Club of America is offering an urban forestry scholarship, and the deadline to apply is January 31, 2020. An award of $7,500 is available to graduate and undergraduate students enrolled at U.S. institutions. The purpose of the scholarship is to "...advance the knowledge of urban forestry and increase the number of scientists in the field." Read more about it here.
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