The city of Los Angeles, California is creating a new street tree inventory to guide how it grows and manages the city’s urban forest. The inventory will assist StreetsLA (Bureau of Streets Services) and City Forest Officer, Rachel Malarich, to collect better data, follow trends more closely, and better determine the most effective tree-planting practices for L.A.’s streets. Officials stress that understanding the extent of the urban forest canopy – and its health and status – is essential if the city is to effectively maintain it for generations to come and ensure public safety.
“Trees are powerful assets in the work of protecting our planet,” said mayor Garcetti. “We are doing more than adding greenery to neighborhoods and beautifying L.A. — we’re building a healthier city and strengthening communities hardest hit by the climate emergency.”
The inventory is a key step in meeting the goals laid out in the city’s Green New Deal, which include planting 90,000 trees by 2021 and increasing the tree canopy by at least 50 percent by 2028.
Los Angeles also launched their tree planting season. The planting program was supported by a state grant that will bring 1,200 trees to Central and South Los Angeles.
“Restoring the tree canopy is a vital step towards ensuring health equity across the City. In addition to improving neighborhood aesthetics and providing shade, trees help address serious health concerns like asthma, which disproportionately impacts South L.A. residents,” said council member Marqueece Harris-Dawson.
“Today represents an important milestone — not only are we beginning an inventory that will be a key component for building our Urban Forestry Management Plan and informing how we manage our urban forest, but we are here to remind Angelenos that everyone can be involved in planting for the Mayor’s ambitious 90,000 trees goal,” said city forest officer Rachel Malarich. “