Portland Urban Forest Plan
Portland, OR · 2023–2025
Client: City of Portland, Portland Parks & Recreation
Location: Portland, OR
Year: 2023–2025
CP Role: Project manager and engagement lead
Practice Area: Environment + Sustainability
Team: Sachi Arakawa, Project Manager; Irene Kim, Communications and Facilitation; Sara Goldstein, Communications; Ayano Healy, Engagement
The Challenge
After decades of growth, Portland's tree canopy had stalled and slipped to 32%, and it was unevenly distributed, with less canopy in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, in one of the nation's most severe urban heat islands. The City's urban forest plan dated from 2004.
Our Approach
We managed the project and led engagement, starting with a power-mapping analysis to find the communities planning had not reached. The survey drew 1,787 responses in five languages, most from those communities, and ten focus groups met in English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, and Mandarin. We logged every comment and recorded how the plan responded to each one.
Outcome
The City adopted the plan, its first full update in about 20 years. It commits to at least 25% canopy in every neighborhood, 35% over streets in 20 years, and 45% citywide in 40 years, with every action costed.
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