The Green Get Greener

Although Friends of Trees in metro Portland, Oregon has planted more than 360,000 trees over nearly two decades, the city has launched “Grey to Green,” a five-year green initiative to augment the city’s tree population.

The Oregon suburbs also have trees on their minds:

• Gresham will hire its first urban forester, hold a community tree summit on Oct. 4, and strengthen its tree-cutting ordinance.
• Lake Oswego approved its first urban forestry management plan in February, considered one of the most ambitious tree-protection programs in the state.
• Tigard aims to put more muscle behind its tree codes. Currently, tree-cutters pay into a fund.
• Clackamas County is recruiting members for a tree task force to rein in the clear-cutting of trees in unincorporated parts of the county.