CAL FIRE GRANT
In 2015, The Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation (OPRF) and Keep Oakland Beautiful (KOB) received grant funding for a project called "Trees for the Oakland Flatlands", to plant 1,500 trees over three years, starting January 2016. Trees for Oakland formed as a new project of OPRF in 2017 to become the grant receiving organization. During the next 3 years, we recruited volunteers, solicited tree request forms, and organized tree planting events in flatlands neighborhoods. We narrowly missed our target, planting 1,475 total trees, almost exclusively through volunteer labor.
The grant was administered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)'s Urban & Community Forestry Program, with money pulled from the state's Climate Investments. The grant applied to communities deemed “environmentally-disadvantaged”, according to the CalEnviroScreen 2.0 rating system. See below for more information about California Climate Investments.
"Trees for the Oakland Flatlands" involved planting trees in the areas of Oakland rated in CalEnviroScreen's top 25% (most severely impacted), or within one-half mile of these areas. Every one of Oakland's Council Districts has areas that meet these criteria.
Most of the trees we plant have been along sidewalks, but we also plant in other public areas like parks, libraries, and schools. We even planted in front yards, back yards, and other private properties, if the property-owners understood that they had to keep the tree alive and thriving for at least 40 years, and that they must make the tree available for inspection by CAL FIRE on request.
The primary purpose of the program is to absorb and sequester carbon dioxide as the trees grow, so larger trees are better for this goal. Beyond carbon sequestration, the new trees will also provide many other environmental and social benefits to the community.
In 2015, The Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation (OPRF) and Keep Oakland Beautiful (KOB) received grant funding for a project called "Trees for the Oakland Flatlands", to plant 1,500 trees over three years, starting January 2016. Trees for Oakland formed as a new project of OPRF in 2017 to become the grant receiving organization. During the next 3 years, we recruited volunteers, solicited tree request forms, and organized tree planting events in flatlands neighborhoods. We narrowly missed our target, planting 1,475 total trees, almost exclusively through volunteer labor.
The grant was administered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)'s Urban & Community Forestry Program, with money pulled from the state's Climate Investments. The grant applied to communities deemed “environmentally-disadvantaged”, according to the CalEnviroScreen 2.0 rating system. See below for more information about California Climate Investments.
"Trees for the Oakland Flatlands" involved planting trees in the areas of Oakland rated in CalEnviroScreen's top 25% (most severely impacted), or within one-half mile of these areas. Every one of Oakland's Council Districts has areas that meet these criteria.
Most of the trees we plant have been along sidewalks, but we also plant in other public areas like parks, libraries, and schools. We even planted in front yards, back yards, and other private properties, if the property-owners understood that they had to keep the tree alive and thriving for at least 40 years, and that they must make the tree available for inspection by CAL FIRE on request.
The primary purpose of the program is to absorb and sequester carbon dioxide as the trees grow, so larger trees are better for this goal. Beyond carbon sequestration, the new trees will also provide many other environmental and social benefits to the community.
