Support Sacramento Trees – Your Input Matters!

Trees are more than part of Sacramento’s Landscape, they’re part of who we are.

Sacramento’s identity as the City of Trees is more than a nickname. It’s a legacy rooted in community, health, and resilience. Our urban forest is an essential infrastructure that keeps neighborhoods cool, cleans our air, boosts property values, and enhances quality of life. But protecting this vital resource for future generations demands commitment, dedicated investment, thoughtful planning, and inclusive actions. There are numerous Plan strategies that will help to increase our tree canopy; however, without help from outside public stakeholders, it will be difficult for the City to implement this plan.

Sacramento’s 20-year Urban Forestry Plan (UFP) for trees has entered its final phase and will be presented to City Council for adoption on June 24, 2025. We must act now to make sure trees remain a fundamental part of our city as we grow.

Email your council member and the mayor with the amendment below, and ask them to add language to the plan to ensure its implementation:

Find your Council and Mayor’s email: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/mayor-council/Find-Your-District
Ask them to establish a collaborative working group comprised of City staff implementing the plan and key tree canopy stakeholders.
Copy (CC) your email to: trees4sacto[at]gmail[dot]com

To Attend Council Hearing 6/24/2025 in Person:

Sacramento City Hall Chambers
915, I Street, 1st Floor Chambers, Sacramento, CA
5:00 pm

Send E-comments to Council Hearing – Go to Council Agenda Item for Urban Forest Plan

The agenda and e-comment portal will be accessible on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
Provide e-comments here.
In “upcoming meetings” section > June 24 Council Hearing.
For assistance with the e-comment process, contact the Office of the City Clerk at 916-808-7200 or clerk[at]cityofsacramento[dot]org.
You can also watch the Council hearing from the above link.

Review the Most Current Urban Forest Plan

As an advocacy group of residents, Trees for Sacramento champions sound public policy and works with the City Council and local organizations to ensure trees are treated as a core component of city planning.

Thank you for your continued support.

Fewer trees, more asthma. How Sacramento can improve its canopy and public health

By the Sacramento Bee Editorial Board
October 15, 2019
The Sacramento Bee

We often plant trees as a symbolic gesture. We plant them on Earth Day in honor of clean air and sustainability. We also plant trees to commemorate people and events.
But trees do more than provide shade and improve landscapes. They are also critical to public health.
In Sacramento, which the American Lung Association named fifth worst U.S. city for air quality and where temperatures increasingly reach triple-digit highs, we must take the importance of trees seriously.
https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article236197713.html

Click here to read the full article.

Midtown Development Plans Revised to Save Tree

By Ben van der Meer
June 10, 2019
Sacramento Business Journal

A proposed apartment development at 23rd and I streets by Vrilakas Groen Architects has been revised to preserve a black walnut tree which would have been torn down under the original plans. The revision comes after an appeal by Trees of Sacramento.

The new proposal also includes seven 1,040 to 1,100 square feet homes instead of seven 1,530 square feet apartments. Garages that were part of the old plan have been removed.

“Basically, we’re delighted [Ron Vrilakas] was willing to go back and redesign the project and save the tree. We think it’s an example of a win-win situation.” – Karen Jacques, Trees for Sacramento

Click here to view the full article.

Sacramento plans to pull out trees near Convention Center during renovation

By Theresa Clift

November 27, 2018
Updated November 28, 2018

The Sacramento Bee

Leading up to the meeting, members of Trees for Sacramento and other residents told Hansen they were alarmed by a document on the city website that said city staff was asking the council to cut down 96 trees for the projects. The real number is actually 51, Hocker told the council at the meeting. The higher number included some large shrubs.
Judith Lamare, of Trees for Sacramento, said the city should have considered tree removals at the time the council was asked to approve the design plan for the projects, when there was still time to make changes without wasting a lot of money.
“That way we wouldn’t get in the position we’re in tonight,” Lamare said.
Paul Andrews said the lost trees would mean about 22,000 square feet of shade lost downtown, which will make it harder for people to be outside in the summer.

Click here to read the full article.