Greater Modesto Tree Foundation
California ReLeaf Network Member Profile: Greater Modesto Tree Foundation The Greater Modesto Tree Foundation owes its origins to a French photographer who came to town in 1999 wanting to photograph the largest and most unique trees. He had a contract with Fuji Film and had heard about Modesto’s fame as a Tree City.Chuck Gilstrap, who became the foundation’s first president, recalls the story. Gilstrap, then the city’s superintendent of urban forestry, and Peter Cowles, director of public works, took the photographer around to shoot trees.Later when Gilstrap was helping the photographer get ready to leave town, the photographer said in very ...
Mountains Restoration Trust
By Suanne Klahorst Life just happens. “It was never my grand plan to become an advocate for the Santa Monica Mountains, but one thing led to another,” said Jo Kitz, co-director of Mountains Restoration Trust (MRT). Her childhood hikes near Mt. Hood put her at ease in the mountains. As an adult, she met children who were afraid of bugs and wild things and realized that joy in nature wasn’t a given. Serving as a guide for the California Native Plant Society and the Sierra Club, she thrived as an outdoor educator for city-dwellers, “They thanked me as if they had ...
Trees Benefit from Federal Funding
In an effort to create jobs, improve the environment and stimulate the economy, the federal government in December awarded California ReLeaf $6 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.The ARRA funding will allow California ReLeaf to distribute grants to 17 urban forestry projects throughout the state, planting more than 23,000 trees, creating or retaining close to 200 jobs, and providing job training for scores of young people over the next two years.ARRA funding has been responsible for a variety of green jobs including jobs in solar panel installation, alternative transportation, fire suppression, and more. The California ReLeaf grant is ...
Decision Maker Education Campaign
In an effort to educate decision makers, California ReLeaf has teamed up with others around the state to create an education campaign that focuses on the many benefits of urban greening. The first component of the campaign included a brown bag lunch session and an eight-page brochure that highlights the benefits of urban greening and tree planting.[caption id="attachment_586" align="alignnone" width="455" caption="From L to R: Greg McPherson, Andy Lipkis, Martha Ozonoff, Ray Tretheway, Desiree Backman"][/caption]On October 28, over 30 people from state agencies and legislative staff attended a brown bag lunch session that provided an overview of urban greening benefits and how urban ...
Tree Partners Foundation
By: Crystal Ross O’Hara A small but dedicated group in Atwater called the Tree Partners Foundation is changing the landscape and changing lives. Founded and headed by the enthusiastic Dr. Jim Williamson, the fledgling organization has already formed partnerships with the Merced Irrigation District, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, the National Arbor Day Foundation, Merced College, local school districts and city governments, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the Federal Penitentiary at Atwater.Williamson, who co-founded the Tree Partners Foundation with his wife Barbara in 2004, says the organization grew out of his decades-long practice of giving away trees. ...
Community Partners in Action
Greater Modesto Tree Foundation
Mountains Restoration Trust
Trees Benefit from Federal Funding
Decision Maker Education Campaign
What is an urban forest?
An urban forest is comprised of trees and other vegetation in and around our communities, including the trees in our yards and along residential streets, in parking lots and along commercial thoroughfares, on school grounds, and in parks and open spaces.
Why are urban forests important?
Healthy urban forests are integral to the ecological, economic, and social well-being of our communities. From cleaning our air and water to saving energy through cooling shade, from raising property values to rekindling neighborhood pride, from providing places for children to play to providing homes and food for wildlife, our communities’ trees have a lot to offer. When selected, planted, and cared for properly, trees can improve the quality of our lives for decades to come.
CAL FIRE Calls for Grant Proposals
CAL FIRE Urban Forestry is pleased to announce their grant offerings for the 2010/2011 fiscal year. Please see the Procedural [...]
Greening the “Concrete Jungle”
As large Victorian-era trees begin to die, people in the UK start to realize the need for a revitalized planting [...]
Greg McPherson Speaks on Trees and Air Quality
On Monday, June 21, decision makers from around California met to hear Dr. Greg McPherson, Director of the Center for [...]
We’ve Moved!
On May 26th, California ReLeaf’s office moved from Davis to Sacramento. Please change our contact information in your records.
California ReLeaf
2112 [...]
