San Diego launches new program to plant hundreds of trees across the city

Ed Lenderman
·1 min read
6
San Diego launches new program to plant hundreds of trees across the city

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) — The city of San Diego launched a new project on Friday to plant new trees across the city with the goal of expanding the region’s urban canopy.

Over 100 trees were planted at Memorial Community Park in Logan Heights during the kickoff of the Urban Forestry Program, which appropriately fell on Arbor Day. By June, city officials say they hope to have planted 700 new trees across the city.

Proponents of the effort say that expanding the city’s canopy can be critical for mitigating the effects of a warming climate, bringing down summer temperatures in neighborhoods by upwards of 11 degrees compared to those without mature trees.

A healthy urban forest can also serve as a mechanism to clear toxic pollutants from the atmosphere and filter dust from the air people breathe, city officials add.

Watch Ed Lenderman’s report for KUSI in the video player above.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.