Tree Planting in San Francisco

Posted by on March 07, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO, CA ? Mayor Gavin Newsom kicked off Arbor Week 2007 today by planting an 18-foot Magnolia tree on Cesar Chavez Street at Precita in honor of legendary farm labor leader Cesar Chavez and announcing the results of his 2007 tree planting goals. The Magnolia tree was the 16,034th
tree planted under Mayor Newsom's aggressive tree planting goals established in 2004. The tree and traffic island, sponsored by the San Francisco Giants, replaces concrete and asphalt with a mature tree.

The Mayor announced that the city has again surpassed its annual goal of planting 5,000 trees, this year by 683. The City?s Department of Public Works has been planting street trees throughout the year and has fostered a greater public/private partnership during the tree planting effort. Other trees have been planted by other city agencies, volunteers and nonprofit agencies since Arbor Day 2006.

?Once again, we have shown that San Francisco is committed to meeting its ambitious environmental goals,? said Mayor Newsom. ?This tree symbolizes not only our commitment to combating global warming and climate change, but also stands as a way to honor one of California?s most renowned activists along the street that bears his name,? he added.

Arbor Day activities support the Mayor?s Livable Streets Initiative, which aims to make San Francisco a world leader in city greening by 2010.  The initiative relies on taking a green approach to city infrastructure management, ensuring that greening not only beautifies, but increases public safety, reduces noise and airborne pollution, cuts city maintenance costs, improves resource efficiency, reduces water consumption, and enhances wastewater management.