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Tree Bark
News from Urban Forestry — All Trees, No Pulp • March 27, 2025
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“To love a place is not enough. We must find ways to heal it.” Robin Wall Kimmerer (Author and Scientist). |
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Out of Portland’s 95 neighborhoods, which do you think has the most street trees? The answer: St. Johns, with a whopping 8,212 trees.
Want to learn more facts like these about our urban forest? Join Urban Forestry and partners Saturday, April 5th, from 9:00am - 12:00pm for this year’s Tree Summit. It will be at the St. Johns Community Center, coincidentally located in the St. Johns neighborhood.
This event will feature several speakers covering a range of topics, including the recently completed Street Tree Inventory Project and a presentation about possible surviving trees from the 1948 Vanport flood. Following the presentations, attendees can enjoy a social hour with refreshments and the opportunity to connect with local community groups to learn more about their work in our urban forest.
Tree Summit is also a great opportunity to learn about the Neighborhood Tree Stewards (NTS) Program from past class members while the application for this year’s class is open. If you are looking to get a taste of what you can learn during the NTS Program, then Tree Summit is where you want to be.
The themes for this year’s class are:
- Tree identification
- Shade equity in the urban forest
- Proper pruning techniques
- Heritage Trees
- Preparing for the emerald ash borer
Spaces are filling up, be sure to register here for Tree Summit. Apply for NTS today!
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We are excited to announce the Invitation to Bid (ITB) for Urban Forestry Tree Planting and Establishment Services! This contracting opportunity is in tree planting and establishment in various locations across the city. The contract will be divided into three bid groups to accommodate small, medium, and large businesses.
Where to Find the Invitation to Bid:
For full details on the ITB, submission instructions, and requirements, please visit BuySpeed, the City of Portland vendor portal. To access the ITB documents directly, please visit Urban Forestry Tree Planting and Establishment Services. We strongly encourage all bidders to thoroughly review the ITB before attending any pre-bid meetings.
Pre-Bid Meeting Details:
Attendance at one of two virtual pre-bid meetings is required for all bidders. In addition, an optional field visit is available for those wishing to gain a deeper understanding of the project scope and site conditions. Please find the dates and times listed below. For details on the meeting location and virtual meeting links, please refer to the ITB documents.
- Virtual Pre-Bid Meetings:
- Friday, March 28, from 9:00am -10:00am
- Friday, April 4, from 8:00am - 9:00am
- Optional Field Visit
- Friday, April 4, from 11:30am - 12:30pm
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We are continuing to celebrate Women’s History Month by sharing an article from the National Forest Foundation. This article highlights five trailblazing women who “tell the forests’ stories”, including writer and scientist Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweet Grass.
Speaking of women telling the stories of forests and trees, don’t miss out on the reading by New York Times best-selling author, Amy Stewart, at this year’s Tree Summit. Her latest book Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession, explores 50 stories of “people whose lives have been changed through their obsessive passion for trees.” All participants who sign in at Tree Summit will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a free copy of the book.
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On March 15th, 28 community volunteers gathered to plant 12 new trees with Urban Forestry at Ed Benedict Park. This park is situated in the Lents neighborhood—one of the hottest areas in the city. These trees will provide much-needed shade, creating a cooler and more comfortable space for residents and park visitors to enjoy during the hot summer months. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our incredible volunteers for making this event such a success! To celebrate their hard work, we treated them to delicious tamales from Los Tamales Locos and some fun Urban Forestry swag. Check out pictures from the event here.
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In Other News
Like a Needle in a Haystack: New Tree Species Found in Tanzania
Current estimates suggest there are at least 73,300 tree species on the planet, 9,000 of which have yet to be discovered. Finding a new species is a coveted goal, achieved by few. Lucky researchers in Tanzania discovered a new species during a routine hike in a forest preserve. They named it Tessmannia princeps. It's a large tree that can live up to 3,000 years and takes 15 years just to grow one centimeter in girth. Read more.
Share Your Feedback on the Draft Portland Urban Forest Plan
You are invited to review the draft Portland Urban Forest Plan and see how we turned your ideas into our new vision, goals, and recommendations for the future. This important document will guide the way we preserve, plant, and care for trees for the next decade. Go to the project website to read the Plan and submit your comments. The public comment period will remain open until April 13th.
Join the Columbia Slough Watershed Council for a Tree Walk in Northeast Portland
Local leaders and tree experts Brittany Gadbury, Ryan Gilpin, and Thomas Meinzen will facilitate conversations about the trees between NE Ainsworth Street and NE Alberta Street. Their canopy reflects the reality of racist historical zoning and neighborhood design in Northeast Portland. The trees here tell stories about the past that can be felt today. Join us for a dynamic, outdoor conversation bouncing from tree to tree, story to story, street to street. This event is free and open to all ages. Register here.
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