Trees help protect the climate by removing carbon dioxide, a powerful greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere through the natural process of photosynthesis. The more trees we plant the better for the climate. Trees also provide shade, valuable habitat for wildlife and can help reduce storm runoff. Updating and expanding the 2010 Tree Master Plan was included as an action item in the 2019 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan. In October 2022, the city went into an agreement with Dudek to create a new Urban Forest Plan. This new plan will be more extensive than the 2010 plan by including 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. We have 25,962 total trees in the city managed inventory with a city-wide canopy cover of 10.4%.

The City of Alameda had and is holding a series of events for the public to weigh in on what is desired in our new Urban Forest Plan. Let’s all participate and ask for a significant increase in canopy cover in all of our neighborhoods. The city had booths at the Bohol Circle Immigrant Park opening (2901 Fifth St.) on January 21, 2 to 4 p.m. There will be a booth at the Story Telling and Drumming Festival at Mastick Senior Center on Feb. 4 1 to 4 p.m. An online survey is coming out this month as well. The city will hold public outreach events through August of this year as the Urban Forest Plan is being developed. To learn more and to sign up for ongoing information about the Urban Forest Plan go to www.alamedaca.gov/CITYWIDE-PROJECTS/Climate-Action-and-Environmental-Sus....

Joyce Mercado is a board member for Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda.