SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Practically two years in the past, ABC7 Information instructed you a couple of complete mission so as to add timber in San Francisco streets.
The town, which has one of many smallest city tree canopies amongst large cities, set a objective to plant 3,500 timber over 5 years. We checked in to see what the progress was for this mission.
On a foggy, chilly San Francisco day, tree planting crews have been inserting an olive tree in its designated location.
“OK, we’ll get the ladder there and let’s get the stakes,” stated Leo Torres, instructing the three-man crew from the San Francisco Division of Public Works.
You suppose planting a tree can be a easy course of. However, it takes extra than simply digging a gap and sticking the tree within the floor.
RELATED: What San Francisco and Oakland are doing to extend their tree cover in most susceptible areas
First, you recognize what they are saying about location, location, location.
“We would like the extra naked aspect to go towards the sidewalk, as a result of we would like the tree to develop out. We do not need it to essentially develop into the sidewalk, as a result of then it protrudes as pedestrians stroll by. And what that is, as soon as we water the tree since it is so younger, it retains the water within the berm right here,” Torres stated.
Stakes across the tree present stability, particularly when it is windy.
“That is referred to as the gator bag. It takes 20 gallons of water,” Torres stated.
From this second on, common upkeep completed by Public Works crews is crucial.
MORE: Gov. Newsom declares tree planting plan to beautify SF streets
This newly planted olive tree now positioned within the Mission District is able to face each folks and the weather. The Mission District is understood for its sunny and hotter local weather, so, on this case an olive tree is becoming.
“I select a person species primarily based on the location location, the width of the trail of journey, all these kinds of issues,” stated Alegra Mautner, an arborist with SF Public Works.
Every tree is thoughtfully chosen and planted primarily based on San Francisco’s micro climates.
“I’ve developed a spreadsheet that I take advantage of that has about 150 completely different species on it, and I’ve about 50 columns on it. So, primarily based on the sunshine requirement, is it on the North aspect of a constructing the place you get plenty of shade or so that you want sure species to have the ability to be tolerate of the shade. Does it get plenty of wind, do you’ve gotten sandy soil or clay soil? These are the issues which can be very web site particular in San Francisco,” stated Mautner as she provides us a tour of the Public Works nursey.
San Francisco is anticipated to plant 3,500 timber inside 5 years to enhance its tree cover, which covers solely 13.7% of town. The nationwide common is simply over 27%. A $12 million federal grant will assist plant timber in neighborhoods just like the Mission, Tenderloin, the south of Market space and the Bayview-Hunters Level District, the place temperatures are usually increased due to the dearth of timber and inexperienced areas.
MORE: Here is how belief group is working collectively to revive Presidio Forest in SF
To fulfill the three,500 objective, DPW must plant 700 timber a yr.
“So, within the first yr we have accomplished 250 timber in San Francisco, and we’ll end these by concerning the finish of June, after which the following yr we’re standing with 1,250 timber,” stated Jon Swae with Public Works.
It begs the query, why does a metropolis so environmentally involved have so few mature timber?
“Our panorama is generally sand dunes and scrub vegetation with only a few timber and in addition we’ve a really constructed out city setting. So, the place in different cities you’ve gotten buildings which can be set again from the sidewalks, in San Francisco, our buildings are all shut collectively and are available proper out to the sidewalk, so there’s much less room for timber,” Swae stated.
DPW admits it is actual objective is to plant an formidable 30,000 new timber by 2040, including greenery alongside medians and each sidewalk within the metropolis.
MORE: Trump’s environmental safety price range cuts seem to focus on San Francisco Bay
“Our work won’t be completed. We might want to keep timber, and we do sometimes — reluctantly — should take away timber. And so, we’ll proceed to interchange timber that get eliminated. However, if we are able to get to that extra 30,000 timber, we will likely be at about 155,000 road timber, and that ought to symbolize full stocking for us,” stated DPW Director Carla Brief.
The supply of that funding is anybody’s guess. However, one benefit Public Works has is that this nursery below the freeway, close to the Bay Bridge. It is being leased from Caltrans. It is a staging space the place DPW grows timber and permits these newly arrived saplings from the Central Valley to acclimatize to San Francisco’s harsher local weather.
By the best way, anybody in San Francisco can request a tree be planted in entrance of the place they stay.
“You do not have to personal property to get a tree planted within the entrance of your constructing, as a result of the correct of means in San Francisco is owned by San Francisco, so it is a public profit for all of us,” Swae stated.
Copyright © 2025 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
