Our Mission
The mission of Vancouver's Urban Forestry Program is to maximize the aesthetic, environmental and economic benefits that trees provide to city residents and visitors by preserving, managing and enhancing existing trees and other vegetation and promoting the reforestation of the urban area, through an active integrated program with community support and participation.
When walking around your city, note that wherever you see trees you are seeing part of the urban forest. The urban forest is comprised of the trees, shrubs and other vegetation in parks, along streets, in yards, on empty lots and in urban natural areas. These trees provide important benefits to all residents of the city. Because human activity disrupts natural forest processes, people have an important role in maintaining and enhancing the urban forest. The Urban Forestry program exists to help residents select the appropriate trees for planting, to provide education about proper tree care and the benefits of trees, and to protect, preserve, and restore the urban forest canopy through code enforcement, planning and tree planting coordination.
The City of Vancouver has been recognized as a Tree City USA for its efforts to preserve and enhance the urban forest.
Tree Canopy
Vancouver Urban Forestry and Clark County GIS recently completed
a tree canopy analysis using LIDAR data and infrared photos.
This study revealed that total tree canopy in Vancouver is only 19.7 percent, much less than the
40 percent canopy recommended for Pacific Northwest cities
by American Forests.
Which neighborhood do you live in? What is the tree canopy in your neighborhood?
Canopy Restoration Program
Recognizing that trees provide numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits, the City is making an investment in the future by planting many more trees throughout the city. Trees are being lost to development, old age, storms, disease and unnecessary removal. Due to this tree canopy decline, Vancouver is missing out on literally tens of millions of dollars in unrealized potential benefits (stormwater abatement, air quality improvement, water quality improvement, etc.) each year. The new Canopy Restoration Program will involve planting trees in parks, natural areas, and medians and encouraging neighborhoods to organize neighborhood tree plantings to reverse the canopy decline. Urban Forestry is using the canopy study data to prioritize tree planting efforts and plan for long-term urban forest health and sustainability.
Volunteers are critical to the health of our urban forest; check out our schedule of volunteer tree plantings or call (360) 619-1108 for more information about volunteer opportunities.
Tree Permits
To maintain a healthy urban forest and quality of life in Vancouver, the City of
Vancouver enforces Street
Tree and Tree Conservation
Municipal Codes. Because it only takes a minute to improperly prune or remove a tree
but a lifetime to grow one, it is imperative to protect and preserve mature trees from
unnecessary removal or destruction. Click here for more information about tree permits.
Topping and Proper Tree Care
To preserve our tree canopy, proper tree care is essential. Topping is widely recognized by arborists and tree care experts as a harmful and inappropriate tree "care" practice; unfortunately, this practice is still widespread in Vancouver.
Presentations
Urban Forestry can make presentations to your community group or organization. Presentation topics include:
- City of Vancouver tree regulations
- How to organize a neighborhood tree planting
- Benefits of trees
- Proper tree care
- Volunteer opportunities
- Or any tree-related topic of interest to your group.
Call (360) 619-1108 to schedule a presentation.
Witness Tree Program
Residents wishing to plant a tree in honor or memory of a special person or event may participate in the Witness Tree program, which is both a memorial program and an adopt-a-tree program that provides a way to commemorate special occasions while also enhancing our urban forest.
To obtain more information or discuss your idea for a "living" tribute, call (360) 619-1108 or email us.
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