From Gray to Green -- an Urban Forest Master Plan for East Palo Alto

Growing and maintaining East Palo Alto's urban forest is a long term investment that must be designed to fit the needs and resources of the City. Decisions such as tree species selection, placement, and maintenance schedules affect the urban forest's ability to deliver environmental benefits, such as providing shade, reducing air pollution, and slowing stormwater runoff. In order to thrive, the urban forest requires investments including financial resources, supportive policy frameworks, and community stewardship (Ko et al., 2015; Vogt et al., 2015; Breger et al., 2019). In addition to the City's direct investment in the urban forest, fostering connections with the local community and equipping residents with tree care knowledge and resources is a key strategy for building the large part of the urban forest that is located on private property.The Urban Forest Master Plan is a document that will guide urban forestry in East Palo Alto to maximize long-term climate, biodiversity and health benefits for the community and to ensure that urban forest management aligns with the City's strategic goals. This plan highlights existing needs and resources and presents recommendations to work toward a shared vision for a robust and equitable urban forest over the next 40 years. It includes an assessment of the current status of the city's urban forest, including tree canopy cover distribution and current management practices. The plan provides guidance for tree planting and management, drawing heavily from community input and scientific analysis. As part of addressing historical inequities in tree canopy distribution both within and between cities, the plan prioritizes planting to ensure that the urban forest's benefits are shared equitably by all the city's residents. It seeks to anticipate future challenges including those associated with development pressure and climate change to build an urban forest that will be sustainable, equitable, and resilient.The Urban Forest Master Plan was funded by a grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) and developed by the City, San Francisco Estuary Institute, HortScience Bartlett Consulting, and Canopy, in consultation with members of the community. Plan development primarily occurred in 2021, beginning with an evaluation of the current urban forest and community engagement process in the spring and summer (Fig. 1.1). The plan makes recommendations based on community input and scientific analysis of local ecology and climate. With the urgent need to adapt to ongoing and future challenges brought about by climate change, this plan aims to allow East Palo Alto's urban forest to deliver long term benefits to all residents and establish the city as a climate-resilient and vibrant landscape.