CAL FIRE

 

 

The CAL FIRE Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program is inviting residents, local governments, nonprofits, and other partners across California to participate in upcoming public comment opportunities for Greening the Golden State: Urban Forest Canopy Plan for California. Through Assembly Bill 2251, the CAL FIRE UCF Program has been tasked to draft a strategic plan to increase tree canopy cover in urban areas statewide by 2035. CAL FIRE is coordinating the plan in collaboration with Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo. The plan will establish a shared vision and strategic framework to expand and sustain tree canopy in communities statewide, improving climate resilience, public health, and quality of life. Comments will be accepted until April 30, 2026.

 

 

In March 2026, three new trees within the Central Coast Regional Urban Forests Council area were added to the California Big Trees Registry!  The registry contains 240 California big tree listings, and 181 national champion listings. Ken Knight and Randy Baldwin worked together to nominate a Chilean Wine Palm and a Silver Dollar Gum, both located in Goleta. Additionally, Ken Knight, Nathan Slack, and Matt Ritter worked together to nominate a Mediterranean Fan Palm located in Santa Barbara. Learn more about these new trees in the registry at the links below.

 

WESTERN CHAPTER ISA

 

 

 

In modern times, tree protection laws and ordinances of all different kinds are found in many jurisdictions. But if a law or ordinance conflicts with the fundamental rules of a state or federal constitution, then the law is invalid to the extent of conflict. This presentation discusses a sampling of the constitutional challenges that have tested various tree protection laws in the U.S. courts, both successfully and unsuccessfully. Topics include takings, substantive and procedural due process, equal protection, excessive fines, search and seizure, and even freedom of speech rights. Speaker: James Komen

SAN DIEGO REGIONAL URBAN FORESTS COUNCIL

 

SAN DIEGO PROFESSIONAL TREE CARE ASSOCIATION

 

 

San Diego PTCA is excited to welcome longtime member and mentor to many of us arborists — the one and only Dan Simpson. Dan will be presenting on California’s Champion Trees, including a few right here in our own backyard. We will see both national as well as state champions. and some that lost their titles.  It’s a perfect segue into our summer tree walks, where we’ll have the opportunity to visit some of these incredible specimens in person. 

  

WESTERN CHAPTER ISA

 

 

 

This presentation highlights rising tensions among insurers, homeowners, municipalities, and tree care professionals as insurance costs, tree‑protection rules, and risk concerns collide. Insurers face mounting losses, homeowners feel trapped between coverage requirements and permit denials, municipalities struggle to uphold ordinances under growing pressure, and tree care companies navigate ethical challenges. The goal is to build shared understanding and support more balanced, collaborative solutions.

URBAN FORESTRY TODAY

 

 

Join Brian Eshenaur, NYS IPM Program at Cornell University, as he returns to discuss the potential insects and diseases of importance for the upcoming growing season.

UCLA LUSKIN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

 

 

The 2026 Luskin Summit, Building Power Through Local Solutions, will examine how California communities can build power to address vulnerability through locally driven policy action that advances equity, and well-being. The Summit will emphasize that lasting change comes not from one-size-fits-all approaches, but from empowering local governments, institutions, and communities to shape solutions that reflect their needs and strengths. One session, titled “Advancing Shade Solutions During LA’s Mega-Event Era”, looks at how UCLA Luskin’s Shade Map and related research have shaped the new LA County Heat Action Plan and offer strategies to reduce extreme heat impacts. With major events approaching, this panel examines how collaborations like ShadeLA, paired with strong research and policy, can build a lasting “cool legacy” for the region’s most heat-vulnerable communities. Speakers will discuss key opportunities, barriers, and what it will take to scale shade equity quickly and effectively.

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CONSULTING ARBORISTS

 

 

Presented by James Komen. How do utility managers keep the public safe and the power flowing without cutting down all the trees? Utility companies are held to a very high standard of care when handling the dangerous instrumentality of electricity. Although they have significant rights and interests in managing trees in and around utility rights-of-way, their control over tree management is not absolute. Thus, competing interests in tree management often become a source of conflict. This talk presents several cases that address the concerns raised in utility vegetation management.

URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SOCIETY

 

 

This practical and interactive webinar is a behind-the-scenes look at how technology can transform the way you manage your urban forest. Whether you’re building a program from the ground up or looking to get more out of your existing tree inventory software, you’ll walk away with practical strategies to make your inventory data work harder, faster, and smarter.

TREE FUND

 

 

 

Dr. Richard Hauer along with Dr. Andrew Koeser and Dr. Jake Miesbauer will present their 2021 Hyland Johns Grant Program titled, “Tree Health Implications of Long-term Strategies to Treat Emerald Ash Borer: Long-term Effects on Tree Injections and Tree Tissue”

WESTERN CHAPTER ISA

 

 

Experience dynamic educational sessions spanning General, Science, Practice, and Spanish-language tracks—exploring everything from tree microbiomes and climate resilience to field-based solutions and emerging best practices.

 

You’ll also be inspired by keynote Nalini Nadkarni and grounded in place as we gather on the ancestral homeland of the Southern Sierra Miwuk people.

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE

 

 

The SFI conference offers engaging discussions and panels covering the following topics:

URBAN FORESTRY TODAY

 

 

Education and awareness can help inform decision-making and resource allocation in urban forest management. Join Sean Mullen (ReGreen Springfield) and Dr. Corey Basset (USDA Forest Service) as they discuss freely-available tools like 'Tree Canopy', 'Tree Equity Score', and 'i-Tree' that promote an essential understanding of the key benefits of urban trees.

INSTITUTE FOR DIGITAL FORESTRY

 

 

 

This conference provides unique insight into the latest developments in digital forestry and how you can use powerful tools and technologies like Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS), photogrammetry, LiDAR and sensor arrays as well as geographic information systems, machine learning, digital twins and artificial intelligence (AI).

Global Trends in Digital Forestry – Advances in remote sensing and other data collection methods deliver accurate, precise results at speed, helping improve how the world’s forests are cared for and managed.

Digital Tools in Practice – Transforming wildfire prevention, disease and pest detection, and data-driven decision making through mobile mapping systems, digital twins, robotics and AI-driven tools.

Operationalizing Digital Forestry through Policy, Standards and Workforce Development – Navigating the transition from legacy systems to new digital tools, including change management, integration into existing workflows and investment in emerging technologies.

We're creating an environment for meaningful networking and engagement. We'll also have:

ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION

 

 

FORESTRY CHALLENGE

 

 

 

The Forestry Challenge, begun in 2003, is an academic event for high school students in technical forestry and current forestry topics. Participants spend four days in the forest learning about the ecology and management of the forested landscapes that provide communities with water, recreational opportunities, wood products, and wildlife habitat. Youth benefit by better understanding the relationship of the forested environment to their community, by exposure to natural resource management as a potential career option, and by undertaking a rigorous critical thinking exercise which is timely and addresses current forestry topics such as wildfire, insects, and forest health.

SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS

 

 

 

Themed "Rooted Future: Growing in a Dynamic World,” this event will bring together foresters, researchers, and policymakers to reflect on the rich history of forestry, share current advancements, and look ahead to the future of sustainable forest management. Registration opens June 1, 2026.

CALIFORNIA URBAN FORESTS COUNCIL

 

URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SOCIETY

 

 

ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION

 

 

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

 

 

ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION

 

 

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CONSULTING ARBORISTS

 

California Natural Resources Agency

 

 

The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Tribal Nature-Based Solutions Program announces funding for California Native American tribes’ priorities for multi-benefit nature-based solutions projects located within the state of California. Approximately $9.2 million is available for tribal multi-benefit nature-based solutions projects.  Applications due April 15, 2026.

US Forest Service

 

 

The following three grants have open applications that close on April 22, 2026:

CAL FIRE

 

 

The CAL FIRE Urban and Community Forestry Program is excited to announce $13.5 Million available for grants focused on creating green schoolyards in the Aliso Canyon area to protect the health and well-being of children most vulnerable to extreme heat. Funding for this solicitation was made available through AB 157 and the Aliso Canyon Recovery Fund, to improve school environments of in-need educational facilities in neighborhoods affected by the Aliso Canyon gas leak. The grant funds are available to support public TK-12 school campuses exclusively within the neighborhoods of Porter Ranch, Granada Hills, Northridge, Chatsworth, North Hills, Canoga Park, Reseda, Winnetka, West Hills, Van Nuys, and Lake Balboa. Only schools in these neighborhoods are eligible for funding.  This grant will support nature-based climate solutions such as tree planting, outdoor classrooms, green play spaces, and food gardens. Projects must fit within a minimum of $150,000 and a maximum of $1.5 Million per campus. Priority is given to projects that serve priority populations such as disadvantaged or low-income communities, or high counts of free / reduced-price meals.

 

Application opens:  April 1, 2026

Application closes:  May 29, 2026

CAL FIRE

Western Chapter ISA

 

 

You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by Dr. Beatriz Nobua-Behrmann (University of California Cooperative Extension), titled “Green Waste Management Practices and Barriers for Invasive Pest Prevention.” The goal of this study is to better understand how green waste is managed, how invasive pest risks are considered, and what challenges professionals face when applying best management practices in California. Participation is voluntary and involves completing a one-time, anonymous online survey that takes about 10 minutes. This survey is intended for professionals who work with trees and/or green waste, including arborists/tree care professionals, landscape maintenance contractors, pest control advisers, land or natural resource managers, urban foresters, public agency staff, and green waste or recycling facility operators. Participants must be 18 years or older.

 

Western Chapter ISA

 

 

Danny Mahoney and I (Jim Downer) are excited to be presenting at the 92nd Annual Conference next month on Fresh Arborist Mulch (FAM): Operations, Economics, and Regulations. We’ve put together a short survey to help us better understand how arboriculture companies are currently handling fresh arborist mulch—how it’s produced, how it’s used, the regulatory hurdles you face, and the market opportunities you’re seeing. Our session, “FAM: The Science and Regulatory Issues of Fresh Arborist Mulch,” will take place at 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29th in the Practice Breakout. I’ll be speaking alongside Daniel Mahoney, and we look forward to digging into the latest research, field practices, and policy considerations shaping the future of FAM.

 

CAL FIRE

 

 

The CAL FIRE Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program is inviting residents, local governments, nonprofits, and other partners across California to participate in upcoming public comment opportunities for Greening the Golden State: Urban Forest Canopy Plan for California. Through Assembly Bill 2251, the CAL FIRE UCF Program has been tasked to draft a strategic plan to increase tree canopy cover in urban areas statewide by 2035. CAL FIRE is coordinating the plan in collaboration with Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo. The plan will establish a shared vision and strategic framework to expand and sustain tree canopy in communities statewide, improving climate resilience, public health, and quality of life. Comments will be accepted until April 30, 2026.

 

Arbor Day Foundation

 

 

For more than 20 years, i-Tree has provided the urban and community forestry industry with forest assessment tools to calculate the economic and environmental benefits trees provide. Due to recent changes at the USDA, funding for i-Tree is at risk of being zeroed out. The Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition (SUFC) is collecting testimonials to share with policy makers to convey its value in hopes of garnering support for continued i-Tree funding. If you've used i-Tree to support your local projects, read the official announcement from i-Tree and check out the link below to share your stories.

 

 

The Western Tree Failure Database has some good news and bad news. We have a total of 6,808 reports in the database. The bad news is that we’ve only received 27 reports so far in 2025. If everyone who reads this would submit at least one report we’d be in good shape. Don’t forget that we are offering a monetary prize for the person who submits the most reports this year.

 

A team of researchers from Auburn University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Georgia are seeking to better understand how the US insurance industry is influencing homeowner decisions regarding yard trees.

The UCFS Industry Trends committee is monitoring the growing concern around insurance companies requiring homeowners to prune or remove trees. This issue impacts our goals to grow the urban forest and negatively impacts the public we serve each day. UCFS and TCIA are collaborating on this issue and are currently working to gather information and decide next steps. We continue to seek your feedback to gather stories and evidence so that we can fully understand the breadth of the issue.

National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council

 

The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council is pleased to announce the National Urban and Community Forestry Ten-Year Action Plan’s public input website is open and available for public comments/suggestions related to urban and community forestry. This Action Plan for (2027-2037) serves as a guidance document for the Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program. State Urban and Community Forestry Programs also use the Action Plan as a guidance document for their Urban and Community Forestry Programs and State Forest Action Plans. Annual Action Plan accomplishments and recommendations are reported to the Secretary of Agriculture and applicable Congressional committees.

 

Voluntary comments will be accepted through June 30, 2026. If a commenter would like to provide a comment/suggestion, or for more information, please visit ActionPlan.UrbanAndCommunityForests.org.

American Forests

 

 

The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC) is updating its Ten Year Action Plan, which creates a guiding framework that optimizes innovations, resources, and collaborations for the field of urban and community forestry. The Ten Year Action Plan also drives federal funding priorities for Urban and Community Forestry. American Forests invites you to take a few minutes to complete a form to share your perspectives on needs, challenges, and opportunities. Input gathered through this voluntary form is part of the stakeholder engagement process and will help update the NUCF Ten Year Action Plan. Perspectives from both within and beyond the urban and community forestry field are welcome. Your feedback means better data, gap assessments and goal setting, which is critical for managing extreme heat, public health and urban growth. This survey will close on May 31, 2026.

 

 

In January 2025, the Stanta Barbara City Council granted an appeal that prevented historic stone pines (Pinus pinea) from being replaced by a different tree species. On March 10, 2026, the latest phase in that curative process took place as 40 juvenile stone pines were planted to fill gaps on the historic East Anapamu Street. In preparation, some street curbs and sidewalks had been modified, the location for each new tree had been cleared of prior growth and amended with healthy soil, and special root barriers were installed to curtail disruptive growth that had buckled sidewalks and necessitated severe trimming.

 

 

The 37-acre botanic garden often known simply as Lotusland, nestled into a residential neighborhood in Montecito, has embarked on a water security and sustainability plan. At the heart of the plan is StormTrap, an underground reservoir and catchment tank that will capture stormwater runoff, filter it, and store it. The stored water will then be redistributed into a system that will irrigate the gardens. Carving out the basin began in January 2026. In March, crews installed the concrete reservoir and began waterproofing.  Construction on the reservoir is expected to wrap up in June. Dust should settle in time for July’s annual fundraiser — Lotusland Celebrates: Botanical Splendor, with special guest Martha Stewart. 

 

Carpinteria’s $1.15 million annual cost for city right-of-way tree and landscape services is currently only partially funded by fixed, per-parcel fees set in 1985, which brings in only $20,000 annually. The roughly $900,000 difference comes out of the city’s discretionary funds, which are dwindling because city expenditures continue to outpace revenues. Right-of-way landscaping services cover city parking lots, trails, some well-traveled public streets, and management for the city’s 2,763 public trees. The updated landscaping assessments would have applied citywide, with each assessment amount varying by parcel type and size. Updated City of Carpinteria assessments that would have fully funded city right-of-way tree and landscaping services costs did not pass, staff confirmed this week.

 

 

Street Tree Seminar, which serves as the LA/OC Regional Council of the California Urban Forests Council, held their March Meeting at La Bonita Park in La Habra on March 19. The event included an engaging presentation and field study with Kelly Parkins of West Coast Arborists, focused on Invasive Shot Hole Borer (ISHB) susceptible trees, with emphasis on sycamores and oaks, as well as Coast Live Oak pathogens and practical management strategies. The event had around 15 in attendance. Enjoy photos of the event at the link below.

 

 

This one-hour documentary discusses the history and the health of the “El Palo Alto” tree, with exclusive insight into the most recent health study of the tree. El Palo Alto is a coastal redwood tree nestled in between the cities of Palo Alto and Menlo Park. It once served as a marker for the explorers and settlers, and now it serves as a symbol for Stanford, Palo Alto, and many more. This project is a completion of an older documentary, filling in gaps and introducing more interesting stories and the technicalities of the health of the tree.

 

 

Palo Alto’s trees are generally in better shape than they were a year ago, but a growing number are suffering because of insufficient watering and a lack of homeowner care. These are some of the conclusions of the sixteenth annual Young Tree Care Survey Report, a report issued by the nonprofit group Canopy that reviewed the health of trees planted on Palo Alto streets and parks within the last five years. Canopy ensures their newly planted trees maintain good health by conducting the Young Tree Care Survey annually, according to the group’s announcement. This year, volunteers inspected 840 young trees listed on the city’s map TreePlotter by reviewing their mulch and weed conditions, stake and strapping needs, soil moisture, and diameters. 

 

 

As Canopy enters our 30th year of service, we are seeking strategic, mission-driven leaders to help guide the future of community forestry. We work in partnership with residents, cities, schools, and community organizations to grow the urban forest in Palo Alto, Mountain View, East Palo Alto, North Fair Oaks, and the Belle Haven neighborhood of Menlo Park. Board service at Canopy is an opportunity to shape climate resilience, equity, and the urban forest at a systems level while staying meaningfully connected to the grassroots work that powers our impact.

 

As a Canopy Board Member, your leadership will help:

 

Apply by April 3, 2026

 

 

A new study from UC Davis offers compelling evidence for why the trees in our neighborhoods are so much more than simply stunning as they emerge into spring. Researchers found that living in urban areas with a higher percentage of visible trees is associated with a 4% decrease in cardiovascular disease. And not all green space delivers an equally impressive impact — the research suggests that tree canopy specifically, not just greenery in general, is what drives the health benefit.

 

 

A Purdue University digital forestry team has created a computational tool to obtain and analyze urban tree inventories on public and private lands with record-breaking speed at an unprecedented scale. The team accomplished the feat by developing a novel AI-enhanced visual computing method that accurately determines the locations of trees in over 330 U.S. cities with a population of 100,000 or more. The method so far has individually identified 280 million urban trees.

 

"The most exciting aspect to me is the speed at which we can leverage satellites. The NYC Million Trees Initiative took over 2,000 volunteers more than 30,000 hours to count the street trees in New York City. We did it in an hour," noted Adnan Firoze, a Purdue graduate student in computer science. Firoze and seven co-authors will report their results in a paper accepted for publication by Communications of the ACM.

 

Certified Urban and Community Forester Credential

Society of American Forester's partnership with the California Urban Forests Council sprouted the future of this credential for professionals across the map. Together we had a vision for professionals in the urban and community forestry space, and now we are making strides to offer this certification to the workforce. The "Certified Urban and Community Forester" credential promotes the holistic nature of urban and community forestry that's focused on resource conservation across the canopy intersected with the complex and dynamic infrastructure and stakeholder ecosystem. Learn more on the Society of American Foresters website and in this article, Certified Urban and Community Forester Credential Aims to Elevate the Profession and Grow SAF by Eric Wiseman, PhD.

SHARE YOUR COMMUNITY FORESTRY NEWS

The California Urban Forests Council wants to hear your Community Forestry news. Has your city/community passed a tree ordinance, adopted an urban forestry management plan, completed a tree inventory, conducted a canopy analysis, allocated new funding for tree maintenance, implemented/completed a planting campaign, hired/contracted a community forest manager, formed a tree board/commission, become a Tree City USA, or generated other community forestry news to share?  We would like to share your news item in our monthly e-news. Please share your Community Forestry news with us at info@caufc.org.