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Many tree lists and selection tools are available on the web, but few address the specific needs of residents and professionals of our local region.
A team of Canopy and City of Palo Alto arborists teamed up to create an easy-to-use tool that encapsulates their more than 150 years of combined professional arboriculture and urban forestry experience. This is a unique tool designed to help residents and professionals understand trees better and select species for successful plantings with confidence.
Tree Library & Palo Alto Tree Selection Tool Team
Canopy’s original Tree Library was created in 2011 by a team of Canopy staff, volunteer arborists, and City of Palo Alto staff (see list below).
In 2024, the Tree Library was updated with fresh tree data and a new feature, the Palo Alto Tree Selection Tool, thanks to funding and expertise from the City of Palo Alto. Although the tool incorporates details specific to the City of Palo Alto, the species recommendations and details are applicable for residents throughout the San Francisco Midpeninsula who encounter similar local site conditions.
Many people contributed to this project and the tree library update, from providing feedback on tree species and data to suggesting and testing the functionality of the new tool.
Canopy is grateful to everyone who lent their time and expertise! We extend special thanks to:
Peter Gollinger, City of Palo Alto Urban Forester
Uriel Hernandez, City of Palo Alto Urban Forestry Project Manager
Pierre Martineau, Volunteer Database Architect
Sharon Colombo, Web Design Consultant
Contributing arborists, staff, volunteers, and partners, including:
Herb Fong
Jeff Greenfield
Michael Hawkins
Peter Jensen
Shani Kleinhaus
Dave Muffly
Jeff Newborn
Katherine Nägele-Lin
Linda Ruthruff
Derek Sproat
Elise Willis
Original Tree Library Creators
The team below is responsible for the original conception and creation of the Tree Library in 2011:
Dave Muffly, Independent Arborist, Founder of Oaktopia, former Member of the Canopy Board of Directors, Board Certified Master Arborist, Certified Tree Risk Assessor, Tree Selection Specialist
Roy C. Leggitt, III, Founder and Owner, Tree Management Experts, Member of the Canopy Board of Directors, Consulting Arborist, Certified Arborist, Certified Tree Risk Assessor
Stephen Scott, former Project Manager for the City of Palo Alto Public Works Dept. Tree Section
Certified Arborist; Agricultural Pest Control Adviser License through the State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
Gino Segna, former City of Palo Alto Public Works Dept. Urban Forestry Section Project Manager
With help from:
David Dockter, Certified Arborist, former City of Palo Alto Planning Arborist
Michael Hawkins, former Canopy Program Director
Eric Krebs, Certified Arborist, former City of Palo Alto Managing Arborist
Sharon Kelly, Certified Arborist, Former Canopy Program Director
Catherine Martineau, former Canopy Executive Director
Volunteer Database Architect:
Pierre Martineau, Martineau & Associates
Tree Library Photos
Susan Ellis, Former Canopy Board Chair
Marina Forte, Professional Photographer
Sairus Patel, Volunteer Photographer, Former Canopy Board Member
Lorenz Sonneman, Volunteer Photographer
