we are committed to increasing our urban canopy
To date, we have planted 579 street trees!
SpoCanopy’s goal is to increase Spokane's urban canopy by planting free street trees in low-income neighborhoods with low canopy coverage and disproportionate environmental disparities, so that all communities have access to the benefits of street trees and green spaces.
Street trees provide a wide variety of benefits such as storm water mitigation, keeping our Spokane River clean, providing habitat for urban wildlife, increasing property values, providing shade, decreasing energy usage, and lowering temperature on the streets, sidewalks, and overall neighborhood. Trees also help to boost immune systems by reducing area pollution and air-borne particles. Studies have shown that time spent in nature and around trees can even reduce stress.
What is a street tree?
While all trees have benefits, “street” trees are within the right-of-way. The right-of-way area may be a defined planting strip, or in some neighborhoods, space behind a sidewalk, or area adjacent to a curb (with no sidewalk).
Residents are required to maintain the trees including watering in the hot summer and fall months, and pruning the tree as it matures.
Where are we planting SpoCanopy trees?
The SpoCanopy program is growing quickly, with a focus on environmental justice. It is our goal to plant 200 street trees each year. We are focusing efforts in Northeast Spokane, in areas that have below average canopy cover. Spokane on average has 20% canopy coverage, with the highest density neighborhoods on the South Hill at almost 40% canopy coverage. Compare that with Northeast Spokane which has 13% on average and the least dense neighborhood at 11% canopy coverage.
This disparity demonstrates a clear need to work in these neighborhoods to close that canopy gap. On top of that, Northeast Spokane neighborhoods are some of the most ethnically diverse, and the lowest-income in the state.
While there are many ways to combat inequity, The Lands Council is uniquely suited to make a difference by planting trees and increasing neighborhood canopy.
While we are focusing on allocating our tree resources in Northeast Spokane, we are also collecting a list of residents that are interested in a SpoCanopy trees. If you are interested in being added to this list, please fill out this form. As we grow this program, we will contact people on this list to see if they are still interested.
Funds for this project were provided by the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program, administered through the State of Washington Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program.
The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Thank you to our sponsors: Townshend Cellar, Avista Utilities, and The Wander Project. Thank you to our partner, Spokane Urban Forestry.
