OUR MISSION
Our mission is to ensure that large-form, long-lived trees in every part of the city reach their full maturity, enabling them to provide the greatest benefits to Portlanders. We do this by inspiring action to protect these trees and the space to plant new large-form trees in new development and street improvements.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
All Portlanders have the right to enjoy the significant health, social, and environmental benefits that come from living near trees that, if properly cared for, grow large and live long. These trees are under serious threat from development pressures. Some are at risk of dying due to lack of water in our changing climate. To steward such trees, and to encourage the creation and maintenance of space for large-form trees, we believe in collaborating with residents across the city and partnering with a variety of public, nonprofit, and corporate entities.
Large trees—our environmental workhorses—are key green infrastructure and should be treated as such.
Trees are an equity issue because of the physical and mental health benefits they provide for residents living near them.
Trees and affordable housing are not mutually exclusive: thoughtful design can provide adequate space for both.
OUR STORY
Trees For Life Oregon was created by a group of volunteer Portland neighborhood tree team leaders and stewards who aim to stem the loss before their time of so many large-form trees. These are trees that mature at more than 50 feet and can live 75 years or more. We treasure these trees because science shows they are the ones that give us the biggest bang for the buck. We mobilized in order to inspire Portlanders to help protect these trees from development and from drought. We advocate for changes in city ordinances and practices, which have proved largely inadequate in preserving such trees. And through Soak-It-Week, we provide opportunities for residents to engage in easy, small actions to help our trees survive Portland’s increasingly hot, dry summers.