Oakland Adopts Urban Forest Plan to Foster Equity and Environmental Justice

The Oakland City Council has adopted its first Urban Forest Plan, a 50-year roadmap focused on equitable tree care, canopy preservation, and environmental justice to benefit underserved communities.

2 minute read

December 23, 2024, 9:00 AM PST

By Clement Lau


View of San Francisco Bay on sunny day from residential area of Oakland, California.

Sundry Photography / Adobe Stock

The Oakland City Council has unanimously approved the city’s first Urban Forest Plan, marking a historic commitment to the care, maintenance, and equitable growth of Oakland’s urban forest. The Plan, a 50-year roadmap, aims to preserve the city’s 68,000 public trees, increase tree canopy coverage, and address disparities in tree distribution. Developed with significant community input, the Plan aligns with Oakland’s Equitable Climate Action Plan and General Plan, emphasizing the importance of environmental justice. Key initiatives include tree maintenance, planting in underserved communities, updating ordinances, and fostering public-private partnerships to create green jobs and educational opportunities.

Oakland’s tree canopy, although more expansive than in many neighboring cities, has been declining and is unequally distributed, with frontline communities disproportionately affected. To address this, the Plan prioritizes tree planting in areas burdened by pollution, identified through CalEnviroScreen, and establishes an implementation team to secure funding and oversee its execution. A $1 million CAL FIRE grant supported the Plan’s creation, which included a Tree Canopy and Landcover Assessment, public engagement, and the planting of 700 trees in underserved neighborhoods. Nearly 2,500 residents contributed feedback to shape the Plan’s equitable vision.

With $8 million in USDA Forest Service funding secured through the Inflation Reduction Act, Oakland is set to implement key elements of the Plan over the next four years, including tree pruning and planting in priority areas. Public Works Director Josh Rowan highlighted the urgency of resuming proactive tree care, halted since the 2008 recession, to ensure cost-effective and sustainable urban forest management. The Plan not only addresses immediate environmental concerns but also positions Oakland to pursue additional funding opportunities for long-term ecological and public health benefits.

Monday, December 16, 2024 in City of Oakland

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Color-coded map of labor & delivery departments and losses in United States.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace

In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and harrowing close calls are a growing reality.

1 hour ago - Maine Morning Star

Street scene in Kathmandu, Nepal with yellow minibuses and other traffic.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs

Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

3 hours ago - Fast Company

Bike lane in Washington D.C. protected by low concrete barriers.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint

Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.

5 hours ago - The Washington Post