Featured UCFS-Accredited City
Beaverton, Oregon
By Michelle Sutton, Editor, City Trees
One of Beaverton urban forestry's "super-
powers"—areas of strength that is reflected
in UCFS Accreditation—is its close and long-
standing partnership with Friends of Trees. "We
do a lot of the tree maintenance work in-house
with our crew of 3-4, but Friends of Trees has
been essential to our tree planting program
for two decades," Jered Lane says. "They also
make planting events fun and inclusive."
Beaverton's mild climate allows for, typically,
four tree plantings a year—one in Oregon's offi-
cially designated Arbor Month of April—and
a planting each in October, January, and even
March, if the weather cooperates. In each
instance, 40-50 trees get planted. "Jered's
calm and collaborative approach has made our
partnership both enjoyable and productive,"
says Friends of Trees Neighborhood Trees
Specialist-Washington County Mario Catani.
Lane and his team scout and mark planting loca-
tions in neighborhoods that need trees based on
low tree canopy, high heat loads, and tree equity.
"Where Friends of Trees comes in, we organize vol-
unteers from within the community to plant trees,
collaborate with the City to select tree species,
and provide tools and instruction on how to plant
trees properly and effectively," says Catani. "Our
goal is not only to increase the urban canopy but
also to bring communities together and empower
neighbors to take part in their urban forest."
Catani says that in 2023, Friends of Trees intro-
duced a new opt-in sign-up model, allowing
homeowners to select their preferred trees >>
Jered Lane is the Public Works Supervisor
and City Arborist for Beaverton, Oregon.
Located just southwest of Portland in
Washington County, Beaverton has a
population of about 97,000 people.
16 CityTREES
