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News Release

Oregon Dept. Of Forestry Names Salem Oregon’s Tree City Of The Year - 03/24/26

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Urban and Community Forestry Program has chosen Salem as the state’s Tree City of the Year. 

 

Scott Altenhoff who manages ODF’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, said Salem was the perfect choice in 2026 both for its vigorous response to the threat from the tree-killing pest emerald ash borer and because it is marking 50 years as a Tree City USA.

 

“Salem has the distinction of being the first community in Oregon to meet the four criteria needed to become a Tree City USA, a national program of the non-profit Arbor Day Foundation that ODF administers in Oregon,” said Altenhoff. “They have been leaders, working to meet the many challenges facing Oregon’s urban forests using recommended best practices.”

Altenhoff said Salem earned the honor through:

  • diversified tree plantings in natural areas, parks, and along streets
  • maintaining professionally credentialed arborists to manage the city’s public trees
  • working to increase its  tree canopy (the percent of land area in the city covered by trees) to 28 percent
  • hosting an annual cherry blossom festival each spring (Salem is known as the Cherry City for its many ornamental cherry trees)
  •  providing in 2025 opportunities for the next generation of urban foresters to develop their skills via Salem's Urban Forestry Internship program, which also accomplished great work in updating Salem's tree inventory.
  • Salem’s Planning & Development Department implementation and enforcement of the Significant Tree Code, which protects Oregon white oaks over 20” and other tree species over 30” and has increased funds for tree planting through enforcement and fines

 

“Salem’s updated  tree ordinance and increased tree planting show Salem's commitment to both protecting existing canopy and growing the city’s urban forest,” said Altenhoff .”I also commend them for the work they’d done to inventory their trees using the Tree Plotter program, which is helping create a statewide database of urban trees in Oregon.”

 

Altenhoff said “We also wanted to recognize Salem for its leadership in responding to the threat posed by emerald ash borer. When Salem learned that this pest had been found barely 25 miles east in Woodburn, staff took immediate action to survey their street and park trees to find out how many were ash and what shape they were in.”

 

Salem’s Urban Forester Milan Davis said, “We wanted to treat ash in good condition and remove and replace those in poor condition or that were planted in the wrong space for their size.”

 

Of some 1,800 trees surveyed that were ash, 1,200 were in good enough condition to be protected with an injection of a systemic insecticide.

 

Davis said, “We don’t want to lose these healthy, mature shade trees. To that end we treated 600 of our ash trees last year, with another 600 planned to be protected this year.”

 

Matt Mills, one of ODF’s Emerald Ash Borer Support Specialists, said “Salem's EAB Management Plan is comprehensive and stellar. Salem is setting a great example for other Oregon communities.”

 

“We are preparing to combat and slow the spread of emerald ash borer in Salem, and in doing so help to shape the future of our urban forest,” said Meridith Greer, Salem’s Natural Resources Planning Manager. “Emerald ash borer will have a massive impact on the entirety of the Willamette Valley. Our goal is to protect the trees we can, prepare for the ones were going to lose and continue to create a vibrant and resilient urban tree canopy.”

 

Oregon’s original Tree City USA

Today, more than 3,500 cities and towns across the country are recognized as Tree City USA communities, including 69 in Oregon.

 

Acknowledging Salem’s status as one of the original Tree City USA communities since the program launched in 1976, the Arbor Day Foundation’s Chief Executive Dan Lambe said, “This 50th milestone is more than a number. It reflects Salem’s leadership, vision and unwavering commitment to the health and vitality of the community.”

 

Lambe added, “Salem’s dedication has never been just about trees. It has always been about cleaner air, stronger neighborhoods and ensuring a more resilient future.”

 

Salem also has the most trees grown from seeds of trees that survived the atom bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. Six of these peace trees from Japan grow in Salem, from a persimmon in Pringle Park to a ginkgo each on the grounds of the Oregon State Penitentiary and the ODF campus, and three at the Unity Church of Salem.

                                                                               # # #

Oregon Dept. Of Forestry Names Salem Oregon’s Tree City Of The Year - 03/24/26

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Urban and Community Forestry Program has chosen Salem as the state’s Tree City of the Year. 

 

Scott Altenhoff who manages ODF’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, said Salem was the perfect choice in 2026 both for its vigorous response to the threat from the tree-killing pest emerald ash borer and because it is marking 50 years as a Tree City USA.

 

“Salem has the distinction of being the first community in Oregon to meet the four criteria needed to become a Tree City USA, a national program of the non-profit Arbor Day Foundation that ODF administers in Oregon,” said Altenhoff. “They have been leaders, working to meet the many challenges facing Oregon’s urban forests using recommended best practices.”

Altenhoff said Salem earned the honor through:

  • diversified tree plantings in natural areas, parks, and along streets
  • maintaining professionally credentialed arborists to manage the city’s public trees
  • working to increase its  tree canopy (the percent of land area in the city covered by trees) to 28 percent
  • hosting an annual cherry blossom festival each spring (Salem is known as the Cherry City for its many ornamental cherry trees)
  •  providing in 2025 opportunities for the next generation of urban foresters to develop their skills via Salem's Urban Forestry Internship program, which also accomplished great work in updating Salem's tree inventory.
  • Salem’s Planning & Development Department implementation and enforcement of the Significant Tree Code, which protects Oregon white oaks over 20” and other tree species over 30” and has increased funds for tree planting through enforcement and fines

 

“Salem’s updated  tree ordinance and increased tree planting show Salem's commitment to both protecting existing canopy and growing the city’s urban forest,” said Altenhoff .”I also commend them for the work they’d done to inventory their trees using the Tree Plotter program, which is helping create a statewide database of urban trees in Oregon.”

 

Altenhoff said “We also wanted to recognize Salem for its leadership in responding to the threat posed by emerald ash borer. When Salem learned that this pest had been found barely 25 miles east in Woodburn, staff took immediate action to survey their street and park trees to find out how many were ash and what shape they were in.”

 

Salem’s Urban Forester Milan Davis said, “We wanted to treat ash in good condition and remove and replace those in poor condition or that were planted in the wrong space for their size.”

 

Of some 1,800 trees surveyed that were ash, 1,200 were in good enough condition to be protected with an injection of a systemic insecticide.

 

Davis said, “We don’t want to lose these healthy, mature shade trees. To that end we treated 600 of our ash trees last year, with another 600 planned to be protected this year.”

 

Matt Mills, one of ODF’s Emerald Ash Borer Support Specialists, said “Salem's EAB Management Plan is comprehensive and stellar. Salem is setting a great example for other Oregon communities.”

 

“We are preparing to combat and slow the spread of emerald ash borer in Salem, and in doing so help to shape the future of our urban forest,” said Meridith Greer, Salem’s Natural Resources Planning Manager. “Emerald ash borer will have a massive impact on the entirety of the Willamette Valley. Our goal is to protect the trees we can, prepare for the ones were going to lose and continue to create a vibrant and resilient urban tree canopy.”

 

Oregon’s original Tree City USA

Today, more than 3,500 cities and towns across the country are recognized as Tree City USA communities, including 69 in Oregon.

 

Acknowledging Salem’s status as one of the original Tree City USA communities since the program launched in 1976, the Arbor Day Foundation’s Chief Executive Dan Lambe said, “This 50th milestone is more than a number. It reflects Salem’s leadership, vision and unwavering commitment to the health and vitality of the community.”

 

Lambe added, “Salem’s dedication has never been just about trees. It has always been about cleaner air, stronger neighborhoods and ensuring a more resilient future.”

 

Salem also has the most trees grown from seeds of trees that survived the atom bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. Six of these peace trees from Japan grow in Salem, from a persimmon in Pringle Park to a ginkgo each on the grounds of the Oregon State Penitentiary and the ODF campus, and three at the Unity Church of Salem.

                                                                               # # #