From Executive Director Catherine Martineau

As we share this report with you in March 2021, we mark a full year since COVID-19 upended all of our lives and put our resilience to the test like never before. This milestone creates many emotions in me. In the context of Canopy's work, however, overwhelmingly I feel a sense of gratitude.

I am grateful to Canopy’s dedicated Board, for their tireless efforts to support Canopy's staff and programs amid uncertainty. I am grateful to our wonderful staff who deployed treasures of resourcefulness and creativity, serving the community in new ways and finding opportunities to bring people together from afar. And I am profoundly grateful to you, our steadfast community of volunteers, donors, partners, and friends, without whom this work would not be possible.

Your enduring partnership kept community trees thriving, and connected people with the healing power of nature outside their doorstep. I cannot thank you enough.

Canopy’s report this year is fully digital—another way we’re adapting to changing times! As you explore what we accomplished together, I leave you with words I often turn to for inspiration, from Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai: "When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and the seeds of hope."

Thank you, from my heart, for working alongside us to plant seeds of peace and hope this year. May their roots grow strong and their branches provide shade for many decades to come.

539 community trees planted

"Popcorn plantings" with households and small groups allowed us to continue planting new community trees. Each Canopy tree is planted with careful attention to site factors, species selection, and follow-up care.

2,400 trees tended & surveyed

Caring for trees when they're young supports healthier, longer-lived trees and a thriving urban forest for the future.

27 youth leaders employed as Teen Urban Foresters

Canopy Teen Urban Foresters ("TUFs") are paid high school interns who green local neighborhoods, hone their leadership skills, and advocate for trees in their community. The program went partly remote during COVID, with students taking on remote research and outreach projects, in addition to limited outdoor field work.

2,600+ students engaged across 15 schools (K-12)

Whether in-person (pre-pandemic) or virtually, Canopy found ways to help students discover, explore, and enjoy the trees around them. In addition to students served directly, Canopy's distance learning curricula was shared beyond the Midpeninsula through local, state, and national environmental education networks.

38 Community Forestry School graduates

This diverse cohort hailing from 12 different cities and myriad backgrounds came together for 8 weeks of virtual classes and outdoor field experience. Together, they learned about trees, urban forests, and how to champion neighborhood nature in their own community.

200,000 website visitors

As life went digital, visits to Canopy's online resources increased 35% in 2020 compared to 2019. People most often stopped by to learn about the benefits of trees, access webinars and tree walks, and explore tree species on Canopy's tree library.

1,250 volunteers, 450 donors and funders, and dozens of community partners making it happen

It takes a village to grow the urban forest. Thank you so much for being part of our community!

Residents and partners worked to reforest Belle Haven and North Fair Oaks

A key part of Canopy's mission is working towards "tree equity" by partnering with communities where tree cover is sparse. This past year, Canopy partnered with residents in two new areas to green their communities: Belle Haven in Menlo Park and North Fair Oaks near Redwood City.

"These areas have been shaped by a history of redlining and other racist patterns of housing and development," shared Maya Briones, Canopy Community Forestry Manager. "Low tree cover today is part of this legacy, and it has a real impact on the environment and daily life for residents in these neighborhoods."

Maya has been working with community groups in both areas to offer residents free trees through a grant from CalFire and funding from San Mateo County. Spring plantings were postponed due to COVID, but Maya used "popcorn plantings" in the fall to plant 19 new trees in Belle Haven and 22 trees in North Fair Oaks, with more planting dates to come.

Many residents were thrilled to receive new trees. "Many people are excited and surprised that a program like Canopy's exists for them," shares Maya, "They can't believe that we're providing this service for free." But other residents are hesitant, or don't have the freedom to plant a tree even if they want to. "As much as these areas need tree cover, there are a lot of barriers to getting trees in the ground," confirms Maya. "Not all homes have a suitable site, especially when there's no sidewalk or park strip. Some renters are afraid to ask their landlords or encounter resistance when they do. Or people are worried that the tree will cost too much to maintain." Because of the barriers, says Maya, every tree feels like a win. "When we are able to plant and the resident loves their tree," she says, "it's super gratifying."

High school volunteer Gabe Ancajas joined Canopy plantings in North Fair Oaks in September 2020. Here's how he tells the story of Canopy plantings in this area. Thank you, Gabe! (4-minute video)

Great Oak Count volunteers supported native ecology through grassroots science

Oak trees are a cornerstone of local ecosystems, but their numbers have declined. Once dominant in over 80% of the Midpeninsula's valley floor, they now account for just 4% of local urban forests. Canopy’s Great Oak Count is a multi-year citizen science project to protect and grow native oak populations by surveying oaks in Palo Alto, collecting data about their size and location, and educating homeowners about the value and care of native oaks.

Great Oak Count volunteer trainings and tree surveys paused in 2020 when the pandemic hit. But with the help of volunteer leaders, Canopy found ways to safely resume surveying. Volunteers mapped 913 oaks and completed the Barron Park neighborhood in Palo Alto. Once complete, the survey will inform efforts to plant new oaks where they can have the most impact, supporting biodiversity and creating more climate-resilient neighborhoods.

"Native oaks are a legacy to care for and pass on, so it's important to share oak tree care tips with residents. We also want to see how the native oak population has changed over the last 20 years and determine where planting new oaks can have the greatest benefit for local ecology, wildlife, and people." - Elise Willis, Canopy Tree Programs Director

Time among trees helped with hard times

Nature is a great healer. The power of trees to relieve our minds and refresh our spirits is not only felt intuitively; it's also well-documented by research. Here at Canopy, we naturally turned to community trees as a much-needed source of renewal during a difficult year, and it's been our goal to help our community find solace, too. Here are a few projects your partnership made possible in 2020:

• Interactive Tree Walk Guides - with in-person arborist-led walks suspended, Canopy's team focused on bringing our classic tree walk routes into the digital age. Peak behind the scenes with intern Veronica Weber, who helped launch the project.
• Community Wishing Trees - Trees are a powerful symbol of hope, life, and resilience. Canopy and partners installed 8 wishing trees throughout East Palo Alto and Palo Alto to provide encouragement and give voice to community hopes.
• Tree Wellness Walks and Resources - from breathing with the trees to taking a virtually led wellness walk at Bol Park or Rengstorff Park, pausing to be with nearby nature is a simple way to care for your body, mind, and spirit.
• Exploring trees and art through a virtual tour of the Palo Alto Art Center's powerful Rooted exhibit.

"More Trees Please" webinar series offered tools for practitioners

In addition to equipping local residents, your support provides tools for decision-makers across the Bay Area whose day-to-day work shapes the fabric of our cities.

In summer 2020, Canopy launched the "More Trees Please!" webinar series. Over the course of 3 sessions, more than 800 people participated, most of them practitioners like city planners and landscape architects.