History

Over the last 100 years, the population of Palo Alto’s city-owned trees has grown to approximately 36,000. However during the 1990’s the forest began to deteriorate due to drought, age and lack of resources for adequate care.

In 1993, the city of Palo Alto appointed a Tree Task Force to begin a two-year study of Palo Alto’s urban forest. The task force reconfirmed the numerous benefits provided by the city’s urban forest and recommended a consistent program of tree planting, maintenance and education.

Canopy was created in 1996, to support the City’s urban forestry programs and engage residents in learning about the importance of trees and how to care for them. Canopy became an independent 501(c)3 in 2002, and has extended its programs to the neighboring communities of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, and to Mountain View.