Portland expands tree-planting efforts to bring more shade to residents

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The City of Portland is getting a massive expansion to its tree planting program. They are planning to more than double the number of trees they plant every year, making it the largest expansion in the city’s history.

The goal is to add shade to hotspots across the city that are lacking trees. The city’s Urban Forestry Division is really focusing on parts of North and East Portland like the Kenton, Cathedral Park, and Powellhurst neighborhoods. Jenn Cairo, the City Forester, said trees are the least expensive way to address the climate crisis.

“What we’re doing is giving folks shade, giving our– our community shade, as well as cleaner air, safer streets to travel on,” she said. “Because traffic, studies have shown, travels more slowly when there are street trees nearby, connected in beautiful communities. Wildlife habitat. So many services that we get from just planting a tree.”

Cairo said this is not costing Portlanders and is mostly covered with PCEF funding. The city is planning to grow the number of trees it plants every year from 3,500 to 10,000 by 2028. They are planning to plant 6,700 this coming season.

She said the west side of the Willamette River sees about 56% canopy cover, but the east side sees only about 21%.

“That’s on par with Los Angeles,” Cairo said. “We think of ourselves as very green with lots of trees, but 80% of the people live, on average, in a place that has the same canopy cover as Los Angeles. So we don’t think of it that way. That’s what we’re working on. That’s why we’re focused on those neighborhoods that need it most.”

One of those groups the city is partnering with is Friends of Trees, which is planning on adding 750 trees over the next two years on its own.

“Portland is a city of trees, and you know what? Friends of Trees, we’re all about planting trees, but doing it with the community,” Deputy Director Megan Van de Mark said. “And so in the process, it’s not just a tree in the ground, right? It’s engaged residents. In that process, people have the opportunity to get to know their neighbors while planting trees. Right? People get to be part of that process.”

Van de Mark said her group will also water the trees they plant for free for four years.

“Trees that maybe in the past, could have occasionally made it without that watering,” she said. “They can’t now. And so, the city really recognizes that we recognize it. So it’s kind of embedded within this partnership and collaboration that we’re going to offer that to ensure that they do survive.”

Cairo said the city will do most of its planting from October to March to take advantage of the cooler, wetter months.