Growing a Greener Future: The Tree San Diego Story
Across the world, cities are struggling with rising temperatures, shrinking green cover, and worsening air quality. Trees — the simplest and most powerful solution — are disappearing just when they’re needed most. In San Diego, the story is no different. The city’s latest analysis found that tree canopy coverage has risen to 15%, up from 13% in 2014, but still far below the 35% target by 2035. Limited budgets and pruning backlogs mean many shade trees — the ones that cool neighbourhoods most — may not see care for 20 years, compared to the industry standard of seven. Without trees, communities face hotter streets, higher energy bills, dirtier air, and weakened resilience to climate change. That’s where Tree San Diego steps in. This nonprofit is dedicated to restoring and protecting the region’s urban forest — ensuring not just more trees, but the right trees, in the right places, with the right care. Their approach is both science-based and people-centred, combining canopy analysis, workforce training, and community engagement to bridge the gap between what the city can manage and what neighbourhoods need most.
Impact at a Glance
- 12,379 trees planted with community and project partners
- 41,301 trees monitored and inventoried across San Diego County
- Treejectory+: Paid workforce training to build careers in urban forestry
- Plan & Plant Initiative: USDA-backed canopy expansion in underserved neighbourhoods
Guided by their vision — Plan. Plant. People. — Tree San Diego is building cooler, healthier, and more connected communities where every neighbourhood can thrive under the shade of a strong urban forest.
At TALTalks 2025, we’ll hear their inspiring journey of how this powerful impact is taking root — one tree, one community, one future at a time.
