Earlier this month, San Diego officials began a fight back against climate change, planting 500 street trees in urban neighbourhoods to boost the city’s tree canopy and meet some of their ambitious climate action plan goals. The trees, planted along Market Street, Imperial Avenue, Ocean View Boulevard, 25th Street and 47th Street, are projected to collectively capture approximately seven million pounds of carbon during their lifespans.

“When we plant more trees, we are making our neighborhoods greener and our air cleaner,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer said. “Every additional tree gets us a step closer to reaching our goal of creating a sustainable future for generations of San Diegans.”[1]

The trees are being funded by a $750,000 grant from the California Department of Forestry. The grant also covers hiring consultants to conduct a citywide inventory of all street trees and to use lasers to determine the city’s tree canopy. This laser survey found canopy coverage has increased from the previous estimate of 6.8% up to 13%, putting the city much closer to meeting its goal of 15% by 2020.

“Trees are incredible multi-taskers and provide so many environmental benefits like sequestering carbon dioxide, capturing storm water, reducing energy costs, extending the life of pavement, increasing property values and providing habitat for wildlife,” said Jeremy Barrick, the city’s urban forestry program manager. “We need everyone to water and maintain the trees we have and plant new trees where appropriate.”[2]

Learn more about innovative tree solutions for urban forests here.

[1] https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-me-government-1202-story.html

[2] https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-me-government-1202-story.html