Trees provide numerous benefits in an urban environment and create a sense of community. Along with providing shade, saving energy, and improving air quality and public health, trees mitigate climate change, reduce stormwater runoff, increase property values, and create wildlife habitats. For these reasons and more, the City of Alameda is developing its Urban Forest Plan, which will update the City’s existing street tree plan and expand the scope to include park trees, trees in easement areas, trees near power lines that are maintained by Alameda Municipal Power and trees on private and other non-City of Alameda properties.
The City’s Urban Forest Plan is intended to be strategic in advancing social equity and contributing to an improved quality of life by providing the benefits of the urban tree canopy to all community members, which includes improvement of overall emotional, psychological and physical health. An updated and expanded Urban Forest Plan was identified as a high priority action in the City's 2019 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan. This newly updated Plan will guide the City’s operations and activities to expand and maintain the tree canopy for the next 10 years.