Fort Collins’ urban forest includes trees growing along streets, in public parks and natural areas, and in the yards of homes, schools, and businesses. Together, these trees are a dynamic, living system that provides invaluable environmental, economic, and societal benefits to enhance the quality of life in Fort Collins.

Summary of Findings

This image demonstrates the Strategic Planning Approach. First asking, "What do we have?", next asking "What do we want?", then "How do we get there?", and finally "How are we doing?"

• Tree canopy cover in Fort Collins is 12.6% and has grown steadily over the past decade. The extent of tree cover varies widely across the city and the growth management area, ranging from almost no trees to over 40% tree cover.
• The largest gains in tree cover took place within low-canopy areas near the borders of the city, while canopy losses tended to take place within the more densely developed and treed urban core.
• The inventory of 61,388 public trees and planting sites in Fort Collins revealed that the biodiversity of public trees is approaching a level that will help the urban forest remain resilient to pests and diseases. Future management considerations should include planting species that are resilient to emerging pests, diseases, and drought.
• The condition of public trees reflects significant investments in routine maintenance as the Forestry Division moves toward its goal of a five-year pruning cycle and away from reactive maintenance, which is comparably more costly.
• Fort Collins’ public trees skew young, reflecting an uptick in more recent tree plantings that are associated with city activities and increased development. Future maintenance needs are expected to increase over time as new trees are planted and existing trees grow into larger size classes, which will require additional resources for the Forestry Division to keep pace.

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Additional Details

TREES SUPPORT FORT COLLINS’ STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

The City of Fort Collins 2024 Strategic Plan outlines seven Key Outcome Areas by which the City measures progress toward its vision and goals. Trees relate to each of these seven Outcome Areas through the many benefits that they provide.

1. Neighborhood & Community Vitality. Trees improve wellbeing and health outcomes in people by cleaning and cooling the air and reducing stress.
2. Culture & Recreation. Trees add to the beauty and character of Fort Collins and encourage people to spend more time outdoors.
3. Economic Health. Trees in business districts encourage people to stay longer and participate in the local economy. Trees add value to properties and help residents save money on energy costs.
4. Environmental Health. Trees provide habitat for wildlife and absorb carbon and other greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change.
5. Safe Community. Well-maintained trees build a sense of community and are associated with reductions in crime.
6. Transportation & Mobility. Trees slow traffic and make streets and sidewalks safer and more comfortable for active modes of transportation.
7. High Performing Government. The Forestry Division proactively maintains public trees and responds to hundreds of resident requests each year. It also influences private tree stewardship through arborist licensing, City code implementation, and tree protection and protection requirements for development.

FORT COLLINS’ TREE CANOPY COVER HAS GROWN TO 13.7%

Urban tree canopy was measured across Fort Collins—where it is, how it is changing, the benefits it provides to residents, and where potential tree planting opportunities exist. The analysis used high-resolution aerial imagery from 2011 and 2021 to measure tree canopy cover across the city as viewed from above. It looked at land within the current city limits as well as the growth management area, which delineates the possible future extent of city boundaries.

Average tree canopy cover in Fort Collins and the growth management area is 13.7%. Tree cover varies widely, ranging from almost no trees in some parts of the city to over 40% tree cover. In general, tree cover tends to be highest within the oldest parts of the city, where residents have been planting trees since the nineteenth century.

From 2011–2021, the city and the growth management area experienced an overall increase in tree canopy cover of 17.2%. The largest gains in tree cover took place within low-canopy areas near the borders of the city, while canopy losses tended to take place within the more densely developed urban core. While the tree canopy study can tell us where canopy gains and losses have occurred over time, it cannot answer specific questions about the causes of tree canopy change. However, it is known that the older age of trees within the urban core, urban environmental stressors, and development (both new and infill) are all possible drivers of canopy change over the study period.

RESIDENTIAL LAND CONTAINS THE MOST EXISTING TREE CANOPY—AND THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR MORE This bar graph shows tree canopy cover by land use type in Fort Collins from 2011 to 2021. Residential areas have the most tree cover and potential for future growth. Most land types, except for commercial and industrial areas, saw an increase in tree cover during this period.

In Fort Collins, residential land contains over half of the city’s tree canopy (Figure 3). Tree canopy has grown 15% on residential land since 2011. The largest tree canopy losses by total acreage have taken place on commercial land, which lost 30 acres (-10%) of tree cover since 2011.

The largest potential for additional tree canopy occurs within residential and mixed-use zoning types, which together contain 8,083 acres of possible additional tree canopy.

THE SPECIES COMPOSITION, SIZE, AND CONDITION OF CITY-MANAGED (PUBLIC) TREES

From 2018–2023, the Forestry Division and trained volunteers from the City’s Urban Forest Ambassador program updated the public tree inventory, documenting 57,991 trees, 2,668 vacant planting sites, and 729 stumps within street rights-of-way, parks, and City-owned property. Detailed information about public trees is used by the Forestry Division to guide management decisions.

PUBLIC TREES TREND CLOSE TO RECOMMENDED BIODIVERSITY GUIDELINES

Biodiversity helps to make the tree population resilient to pests and diseases. The importance of biodiversity can be seen in the effects of emerald ash borer, which threatens 13% of existing public trees that are in the genus Fraxinus.

There are at least 214 unique species of trees within the public tree inventory that represent 56 genera and 26 families. At a species level, the biodiversity of public trees is approaching the urban forestry industry guideline of no more than 10% of a single species present in the inventory.

Today, both green ash and honeylocust exceed recommended limits for species abundance. The abundance of all ash species is expected to decline over time due to emerald ash borer. The Forestry Division is reducing the planting of honeylocust on public property and is encouraging developers to shift away from planting honeylocust as part of required street tree plantings that are associated with development.

Genus- and family-level biodiversity is also important, as many tree pests and diseases have the ability to attack multiple related species. It is recommended that no one genus should comprise more than 20% of the tree inventory, and no one family should comprise more than 30%. The tree genera and families in the public inventory remain below these thresholds; however, the pest and disease susceptibility of the larger tree population remains unknown.

PUBLIC TREES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION

The condition of public trees reflects significant investments in routine maintenance as the Forestry Division moves toward its goal of a five-year pruning cycle and away from reactive maintenance, which is comparably more costly.

More than half of public trees (55%) are rated to be in Good or Fair-Plus condition, meaning that their trunks and crowns are generally healthy and strong (Figure 5). An additional one-third (34%) are rated to be in Fair condition, indicating that they are healthy and show no major defects.

PUBLIC TREES SKEW YOUNG

A mixed-age tree population balances the maintenance needs of public trees over time and protects against significant canopy loss. Sixty percent of public trees in Fort Collins are young, reflecting sustained tree planting efforts within the city, including tree planting that occurs through new development as the city has grown.

Care of young trees during establishment, as well as proactive maintenance of older age classes, will help increase the proportion of older trees to balance age classes over time. As the urban forest grows, the benefits that it provides will increase. In the next 20 years, at the present rate of planting, the population of public trees is projected to shift toward more medium sized trees.

Summary of Findings

• Fort Collins’ trees produce at least $2.2 million in air quality, stormwater, and carbon storage benefits each year. Tree benefits have increased in the past decade with canopy growth. Today, trees provide an additional $346,000 in services per year than they did in 2011.
• Trees support community goals to promote a physically active and environmentally sustainable community. Increasing tree canopy cover along bike lanes and near bus stops can be one component of a comprehensive approach to encouraging active modes of transportation.
• Many areas of greatest tree canopy loss have occurred where tree canopy is most needed to build social equity. Priority planting maps can be used to guide future planting efforts on both public and private land, to add trees where they can have the greatest impact.
• Residents and urban forestry partners are interested in resources that can assist them with tree planting and maintenance as well as opportunities for input and involvement.

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Additional Details

FORT COLLINS’ TREES PROVIDE $2.2 MILLION IN BENEFITS EACH YEAR

Some tree benefits can be assigned a monetary value that is based on avoided costs—this includes air pollution reduction, stormwater runoff mitigation, and carbon sequestration and storage (Table 2). Based on these benefits alone, Fort Collins’ trees produce at least $2.2 million in ecosystem services each year. This amount has increased in the past decade with tree canopy growth. Today, Fort Collins’ trees provide an additional $346,000 in services each year than in 2011.

Of these benefits, public trees account for more than $69,000 in annual benefits and have an estimated replacement value of $112 million. Replacement value is the cost of replacing a tree with tree(s) of a similar species, size, and condition in the same location.

TREES HELP RESIDENTS SAVE MONEY

Trees save energy by providing shade and blocking wind, which reduces the need for heating and cooling and lowers energy costs for homes and businesses. Properly placing three trees around a home can reduce energy costs for the average household by $100 to $250 per year. Trees that shade air conditioning units can help them run up to 10% more efficiently.

Trees also help residents save money on health care costs. Trees reduce the incidences of medical complications due to asthma, heart disease, and heat-related illnesses.

TREES SUPPORT FORT COLLINS’ SHIFT TO ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Trees support the City’s goal to build a low-stress, high-comfort active transport network that promotes a physically active and environmentally sustainable community (Transportation Master Plan, 2019). Trees growing in street rights-of-way help to slow traffic, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Shade and evapotranspiration cooling provided by street trees allow for more comfortable walking, biking, and use of public transit and increase the appeal of cycling routes. Trees and other vegetation can also reduce the exposure of cyclists and pedestrians to air pollution.

Encouraging individuals to shift their short vehicle trips to active transportation modes (e.g., biking, walking) is one of the most effective ways to reduce vehicle miles traveled, a goal of both the City’s transportation master plan and Our Climate Future plan (2021).

• Bus Stops. Trees provide shade that can make waiting for the bus more comfortable during summer months. Average tree cover is 18.3% at the 22 bus stations and 423 bus stops across Fort Collins, a loss of 3.7% cover since 2011.
• Bike Lanes. Trees not only shade bike lanes; they also contribute to the safety of cyclists by slowing traffic. Over the 267 miles of bike lanes across Fort Collins, average tree canopy cover is 9.5%, approximately the same as it was in 2011 (+0.1%).

BALANCING THE COSTS & BENEFITS OF TREES

As with all infrastructure, tree placement requires considerations for maintenance and safety. Trees can increase some of the maintenance needs of streets and sidewalks, such as the frequency of street sweeping. Trees may also cause heaving of sidewalks where trees have been planted too close to the sidewalk, in spaces with poor soil preparation and/or compaction, or in places where the tree species and the planting site have not been well matched. In colder months, snow and ice can persist within the shadows of trees, creating a slipping hazard for pedestrians. On the other hand, shade from trees increases the lifespan of asphalt. In most cases, the benefits of trees outweigh additional maintenance costs, and careful placement of trees can reduce risks.

A FUTURE OF MORE EQUITABLE TREE CANOPY

The tree cover analysis of Fort Collins identified 15,418 acres of possible tree planting area within city limits and the growth management area, on both public and private land. Possible planting area excludes places where tree canopy would conflict with land uses, such as agricultural fields, recreational fields, and major utility corridors.

A priority planting analysis ranked possible tree planting area on a five-point scale from Very Low to Very High, based on the potential for trees to benefit the environment, human health, and social equity. The analysis identified 2,250 acres of High or Very High priority where additional tree canopy can capture stormwater, reduce urban heat, improve health outcomes, and benefit vulnerable communities.

COMMUNITY PRIORITIES

Findings from the community engagement process demonstrate that the people of Fort Collins value trees and understand the myriad ways that trees enhance quality of life in the city.

Residents and urban forestry partners noted these opportunities for future growth of the forestry program:

• Residents are invested in the ongoing management of Fort Collins’s trees and want to be involved in decisions about how the City will help ensure tree canopy preservation and growth into the future.
• Forestry Division partners, both internal and external to City government, underscored the collaborative nature of Forestry staff and the high level of expertise and service that they provide.
• Forestry partners want to continue to foster growth and collaboration among Forestry, other City departments, and external partners, for example, by ensuring that Forestry is at the table in other planning efforts.
• Both residents and Forestry partners are interested in resources that will help them be effective stewards of tree canopy, including informational resources, financial resources, and opportunities for involvement in urban forestry.

Summary of Findings

• Over the past decade, the Forestry Division has increased the number of public trees that it plants and prunes each year. The City has made significant progress toward its goal of a five-year pruning cycle.
• The Forestry Division’s budget is on par with the average forestry budget for U.S. cities, while delivering a level of service that is well above average.
• The Forestry Division is currently fully staffed and has identified needed capacity in grant writing, plan review, and operations. To meet its annual targets and promote the health and career development of Forestry staff, the Forestry Division will require an operations crew and associated equipment in the coming years. Labor from contracted tree services can supplement Division capacity.
• In the future, Forestry Division resources should scale with the number of new trees that are added to the public tree inventory via development, the rate of inflation, and desired increases in the rate of tree canopy growth.

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Additional Details

THE FORESTRY DIVISION IS PROACTIVELY MANAGING PUBLIC TREES

Fort Collins’ Forestry Division provides a high level of service in the management of its public tree inventory. Over the past decade, the Forestry Division has contributed to the city’s steady canopy growth by increasing the number of public trees that it plants and prunes each year. As the inventory grows through City tree planting and development, it will be necessary to scale Forestry Division operations and capacity to keep pace.

FORESTRY IS POSITIONING PUBLIC TREE CANOPY FOR GROWTH

Proactive pruning, tree planting, and pest management are part of comprehensive urban forestry care that promotes the growth and survival of trees.

Pruning comprises a majority of yearly Forestry activities. Forestry is currently maintaining trees on a 5–7 year pruning cycle to maintain tree health and is making progress toward achieving a five-year pruning cycle. In 2022, the City reached the benchmark for a five-year pruning cycle for the first time, aided by an additional one-year budget allocation for storm response in 2021 that supported additional pruning activities. This puts Fort Collins within a minority of U.S. cities that proactively manage their public tree inventory on a routine pruning cycle of any length.

In 2021, the Division achieved a level of planting that exceeds removals, aided by $100,000 in private donations for tree planting. Also in 2021, the Forestry Division began preventative treatments of public ash trees for emerald ash borer.

FORT COLLINS’ ANNUAL FORESTRY BUDGET IS ON PAR WITH OTHER CITIES WHILE DELIVERING A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE

The Forestry Division is supported by the City’s General Fund, which is the main operating fund for the City of Fort Collins. From 2019–2023, the Forestry Division’s annual budget ranged from $2.34 million to $3.35 million. The proportion of total City budget that is dedicated to Forestry is on par with that of other U.S. cities.

Forestry’s budget supports tree activities that are completed by in-house staff and contractors. The largest annual expenditures relate to pruning.

ADDITIONAL CAPACITY WILL HELP FORESTRY KEEP PACE WITH GROWTH

In 2024, the Division employs 17 full-time staff, 5 hourly staff, and receives part-time assistance from one office assistant. One additional full-time position, housed within the Zoning Department, supports Forestry needs that relate to development. The Forestry Division has identified additional needed capacity in the near term:

• Planning & Policy Support. An urban forest planner will help with grant writing, policy development, and the incorporation of the urban forest into long-range planning.
• Consistent & Safe Operations. An additional operations crew, fully equipped, will help Forestry consistently achieve a five-year pruning cycle. Additional operations capacity will also allow for crew rotations among different tree activities, which is important for helping existing staff to develop new skills and remain healthy in physically demanding positions.
• Contracted Services. In the near term, an increase in contracted tree services can help the Forestry Division maintain the desired levels of pruning and planting until Forestry has the resources to support an additional operations crew. Thereafter, contracted tree services can supplement staff labor.
• Growing with the Urban Forest. New development will increase the number of trees in the public inventory. To maintain a high level of service, Forestry budgets, staffing, and resources should scale in proportion to inflation and increases in the number of public trees.

FORT COLLINS ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE 15.7% CANOPY COVER BY 2040

Fort Collins is on a path to achieve 15.7% tree cover by 2040 if the previous decade’s trend continues. Increasing the rate of canopy growth to deliver additional human health and environmental benefits would require a concerted effort to increase tree planting and preservation within both the public and private sector.

Growing tree cover to 17%–20% by 2040 would require additional planting or preservation of approximately 2,600– 8,800 trees per year across public and private lands. The costs of such an endeavor vary but, using Forestry’s per-tree expenditure from 2019–2023 as a benchmark, costs are estimated to be $1.3 million–$4.3 million per year, spread across the public and private sector. Enhanced tree protection and preservation provides an alternative to tree planting to achieve the City’s canopy goal.

The population of public trees (on City property) is projected to slow its growth in the next 20 years as available vacant planting sites are filled. This does not account for additional tree sites that are added via development, which has averaged 1,500–2,000 trees per year in recent years.

Summary of Findings

Three goals emerged from the strategic planning process to guide stewardship of Fort Collins’ urban forest over the next 20 years:

1. BUILD RESILIENCE & WELLBEING OF PEOPLE AND TREES.
2. SUSTAINABLY GROW THE FORESTRY DIVISION.
3. EXPAND THE COMMUNITY’S KNOWLEDGE ABOUT TREE BENEFITS AND STEWARDSHIP.
   

The findings that are detailed above, as well as additional analysis that is presented in an accompanying technical appendix, informed the development of seven urban forestry strategic recommendations. Each recommendation contains two levels of initiatives that can support implementation of this Urban Forest Strategic Plan. Fort Collins can select from, and refine, this menu of initiatives over the life of the Plan according to its capacity, resources, and community goals.

The recommendations of the Urban Forest Strategic Plan reflect seven Outcome Areas that are detailed in the City of Fort Collins 2024 Strategic Plan.

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Recommendation 1: STRATEGICALLY INVEST IN GROWING TREE CANOPY WHERE IT WILL PROMOTE RESILIENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN FORT COLLINS

FOUNDATIONAL INITIATIVES

• Prioritize equitable planting and maintenance within areas of greatest tree canopy loss that correspond to priority areas for human and environmental wellbeing.
• Implement a parks planting plan that aligns with the Living Tribute Tree program to strategically fill vacant planting sites in parks.
• Create a planting plan to fill vacant planting spaces over 10 years. Scale annual tree planting efforts to replace public tree losses due to natural mortality and other tree removals.
• Incorporate new species that are adapted to future climate conditions, for example, drought tolerant, pest/disease tolerant, and acclimated to warmer and more extreme temperatures.
• Work with water efficiency experts to create educational resources about trees and irrigation that include species guidance, proper tree watering techniques, and tree watering protocols for water conservation. Encourage the use of dedicated irrigation for trees.
• Grow the Community Canopy Program to supply more trees to residents for planting on private property, prioritizing areas where tree canopy is most needed.
• Utilize stormwater and hydrant water capture to water trees.

TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES

• Coordinate with other City departments to integrate trees into a complete streets framework. Prioritize planting and maintenance along bicycle routes.
• Undertake a study of bus stops to understand patterns of recent tree canopy loss, create solutions to increase tree cover, and reduce conflicts between trees and bus infrastructure.
• Coordinate with other City departments to use smart growth urban design principles to develop a comprehensive heat mitigation plan for the built environment that prioritizes vulnerable populations. Include strategies for development, land use, and tree preservation.
• Build tree connectivity to parks and schools.
• Develop and set canopy goals for different geographies, for example, by land use type or district.
• Shift species composition of the urban forest toward more drought-tolerant species.
• Build species-level biodiversity of the public tree inventory. Track the use of cultivars and varieties.
• Explore a citywide tree canopy goal that can inform planting and protection objectives for private property.
• Provide species guidance for tree giveaways and private planting.

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Recommendation 2: COMPLETE THE SHIFT TO PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT OF FORT COLLINS’ PUBLIC TREES

FOUNDATIONAL INITIATIVES

• Implement a five-year routine pruning cycle.
• Plan to scale up pruning activities as additional trees are added to the inventory.
• Use the existing tree inventory to inform management decisions based on species and size.
• Create an urban forest management plan that details Forestry operations over the next 5–10 years.
• Incorporate the storm response plan, the City’s strategic plans, Parks Master Plan, Our Climate Future plan, and other city management plans into urban forestry operations.

TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES

• Collect more detailed public tree inventory data to guide management that is based on risk rating, recommended maintenance, and/or related metrics.
• Project tree benefits under different management scenarios.

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Recommendation 3: STRENGTHEN CITY POLICIES TO PROTECT TREES

FOUNDATIONAL INITIATIVES

• Adopt a citywide land use code to improve tree preservation and protection while balancing other priorities and needs of the community.
• Draft a heritage tree program that allows for the elective enrollment and protection of trees that have cultural, historic, or ecological value.
• Create policy summaries or tip sheets that clarify the responsibility for tree maintenance in spaces including alleyways, property boundaries, and ditches.
• Plan for education and outreach that will guide policy development about tree protection for development scenarios on private land.
• Reference existing good practices—best management practices and manuals, ISA Certified Arborist requirements, wood utilization program—in city code.
• Create a comprehensive insect/disease control plan to address existing and future threats.

TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES

• Draft a heritage tree ordinance that protects trees greater than a certain size on private property. Require a permit for, or prohibit, pruning or removal of heritage trees.
• Clarify the legal responsibility for trees within vacant and boundary areas (land without ownership) to encourage the protection and growth of tree canopy.
• Plan for tree preservation and tree canopy expansion within areas in the Growth Management Area that are to remain as future green space as identified by the Parks & Recreation Master Plan and the Natural Areas Strategic Framework.
• Demonstrate outdoor water efficiency by creating water-smart landscapes that incorporate trees on City property.
• Explore and expand tree protection and preservation policies within the Land Use Code to apply to non-development scenarios.
• Develop additional policy for tree protection on private land—for example, protecting trees during residential property development scenarios. Educate and engage with the public about policy scenarios to gauge public support.
• Require landfill diversion for wood waste that originates from private land.

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Recommendation 4: COLLECT DATA TO TRACK CHANGES TO TREE CANOPY OVER TIME AND TO INFORM FORESTRY ACTIVITIES

FOUNDATIONAL INITIATIVES

• Repeat an urban tree canopy assessment in 5 years using 2026 data to measure canopy change. Collaborate with other City departments to expand the analysis to include additional land cover types and geographies.
• Map existing public trees that are under threat from pests and/or drought using inventory data; look for trends that may inform tree activities.
• Complete data fields for all public trees about irrigation status and emerald ash borer treatment priority.
• Conduct a sample inventory of natural areas in alignment with the Natural Areas Strategic Framework.

TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES

• Repeat an urban tree canopy assessment in 2 years to capture early canopy changes due to emerald ash borer. Apply advanced mapping options to guide and measure the effects of policy changes.
• Update the public tree inventory on a 5-year cycle.
• Use a sample inventory to evaluate tree species composition across the Growth Management Area to better understand resilience of the urban forest to pests, diseases, abiotic stressors, and climate change.

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Recommendation 5: SUSTAINABLY GROW THE FORESTRY DIVISION TO KEEP PACE WITH GROWTH OF THE URBAN FOREST

FOUNDATIONAL INITIATIVES

• Internally track public requests that are submitted via phone and email.
• Regularly report on budget expenditures by tree activity.
• Create work plans to make efficient use of personnel and budget.
• Acquire additional staff for tree planting/preparation and pruning.
• Add capacity for grant writing and reporting.
• Pursue grants and other limited funding opportunities.
• Contribute to local initiatives to expand the green workforce.

TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES

• Use resource management software to track public requests.
• Create an urban forestry planner position.
• Annually or biannually report to the public on tree activities.
• Link tree activities to health, social, and environmental data, and to community data (transit ridership, cycling/pedestrian stats, city Outcome Areas) as available.
• Add at least one additional, fully equipped Forestry crew.
• Implement a staff rotation schedule. Regularly rotate Forestry staff to different teams to provide rest from physical labor and build knowledge across the team.
• Increase the space that is available to Forestry for operations, equipment, and wood waste. Locate space where it can maximize efficiency of fuel use and time.
• Increase the budget for tree maintenance over time as young trees grow.
• Create new sources of sustained funding, such as a Tree Fund, and align with City Give.

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Recommendation 6: DEEPEN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT TREE STEWARDSHIP

FOUNDATIONAL INITIATIVES

• Engage the public in policy updates that protect trees on private property.
• Continue and grow the Urban Forest Ambassador program.
• Provide educational resources to assist property owners with private tree planting, maintenance, and preservation.

TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES

• Engage in interdepartmental and cross-sector coalition building around trees:
• Integrate forestry activities with implementation of the Active Modes Plan. Engage with Active Modes stakeholders including the cycling community.
• Expand engagement and volunteer opportunities into communities with health and social vulnerabilities.
• Align wood utilization efforts with larger Zero Waste initiatives.
• Engage with parks advocates; see Nature in the City and 15-Minute Walk campaigns.
• Engage with the business sector to promote trees for economic development, e.g., Holiday Lights.
• Enlist community organizations to engage with their networks on topics including tree benefits, tree responsibilities, policy development, and volunteer opportunities.
• Work with other City departments and initiatives, including the Xeriscape Incentive Program, to develop resources about outdoor water conservation, turf removal, and tree watering.
• Create resources on wood utilization best management practices for the public.
• Provide financial resources to assist property owners with private tree planting, maintenance, and preservation.
• Expand volunteer opportunities to assist with activities such as young tree pruning, watering assistance during drought, or community education.
• Create tip sheets that explain city code and policies in plain language.

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Recommendation 7: EXPAND THE NETWORK OF FORESTRY DIVISION PARTNERS

FOUNDATIONAL INITIATIVES

• Continue regional work with nursery growers to secure the quantity and types of climate- and pest-adapted trees that will be needed to meet planting goals.
• Share urban forestry resources and knowledge with neighboring communities.
• Expand staff involvement in regional urban forestry networks; provide additional opportunities for staff that contribute to career development.

TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES

• Encourage large corporate and institutional campuses to develop tree plans.
• Continue engagement with partners about management of public trees.
• Contribute expertise about trees and urban forestry in regional planning efforts that relate to climate resilience, complete & green streets, human health, wood utilization, etc.
• Continue to support the wood waste program and grow the regional network of urban woodworkers and wood utilization partners.