San Leandro Needs Residents' Input For New Trees Master Plan

SAN LEANDRO, CA — The city of San Leandro is developing a Trees Master Plan with urban forestry consultants and community partners to improve community health, increase resilience of vulnerable populations, and distribute urban tree canopy equitably throughout San Leandro.

To develop the plan, the city is looking for community input on how to create a vision for trees so that they can benefit everyone who lives, works, and plays in San Leandro for generations to come with an online survey.

"Your participation is critical to the success of this project," the city said, adding that the survey consists of 10 questions to "gather insights into your understanding, viewpoints, ideas and priorities."

According to the city, the urban forest provides a variety of benefits to the community and plays a key role in mitigating urban heat islands, reducing electricity bills, improving air quality, reducing stormwater runoff and flooding damage, improving overall emotional and psychological health and improving physical health.

"The distribution of tree canopy and the associated benefits is not equitable in San Leandro, so it is a priority in this plan to identify the inequities and create actionable and equitable strategies," the city said. "Additionally, the City’s 2021 Climate Action Plan identified street trees as a vital resource for carbon sequestration, and so by creating a Trees Master Plan the City is also working toward its sustainability goals."

Urban forest consists of all the trees, shrubs and vegetation within the city, including parks, along roadways, private yards and natural areas.

According to the city of San Leandro's Trees Master Plan website, a comprehensive inventory of public trees along streets and in parks that began in July of this year is being completed by ISA Certified Arborists. The inventory is expected to provide "vital information about San Leandro’s public trees, such as their characteristics, structure, condition and maintenance needs."

"Once completed, this tree inventory data will guide the city on managing, planting, and caring for trees in the Trees Master Plan," the city said. "... Caring for the urban forest is imperative to create a sustainable healthy, vibrant city."

For more information send an email to the city's Urban Forest Department.

The survey closes in December.