Here's what's new
The latest news and education information from OCT
The Medford-based non-profit Oregon Stewardship has been named Organization of the Year by Oregon Community Trees (OCT). Each year Oregon Community Trees honors one organization in the state for outstanding work to engage Oregonians in caring for their urban forests and natural areas. This year’s recipient, Oregon Stewardship, works with schooldistricts and teachers on watershed projects involving students in Jackson, Josephine, Curry, and Coos counties. Oregon Stewardship leads students on hands on projects neartheir schools. On these projects they can plant trees and gardens and create nature trails. Students design and build the trails, create an informational brochure, and place signs along the trails. Projects that students create are maintained in following years by later students at the same school. High school students mentor younger students on nature hikesand field trips, helping them with art or writing classes associated with the projects. High school students that work with Oregon Stewardship are eligible for scholarships for college or vocational education.Oregon Stewardship’s focus is watershed, including:
- River, stream and forest ecosystems
- The ecological cycles and functions that sustain these ecosystems
- Indicators of ecosystem health, such as salmon
An example of a recent project was the planting in 2024 by South Medford High School students of 180 native plants next to the Panther Pride Trail along fire-ravaged Bear Creek in Medford. Jim Gersbach, President of Oregon Community Trees, said his organization wanted to honor Oregon Stewardship for the work they do to encourage
the community to provide stewardship for Oregon’s land. “They do a great job creating opportunities for students and adults to participate in grassroots care for our environment. At the same time, they are helping young people learn about and practice environmental restoration and gain leadership skills,” said Gersbach.
- Keynote speaker announced for 2026 conference
- Hiroshima peace tree documentary entered into 2026 film festivals
- Applications are now open for 2026 Oregon Arbor Month grants
- OCT names new board members
- OCT names new president
Geoffrey Donovan will be keynote speaker at 2026 Oregon Urban Forestry Conference in Eugene
EUGENE, Ore. – The many ways trees protect human health willbe the focus of the 2026 Oregon Urban and Community Forestry Conference to be held June 4 in Eugene at Venue 252.
Registration for the conference—We Thrive When TreesThrive—is now open at https://www.oregoncommunitytrees.org/2026-conference
Keynote speaker will be Geoffrey Donovan, a natural resource economist with the private consultancy firm Ash and Elm Consulting, LLC. Whenhe was a researcher based at the USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest
Research Station, Donovan published a ground-breaking study that found each tree planted
in Portland by the non-profit Friends of Trees was associated with significant reductions in non-accidental and cardiovascular human deaths. Donovan had access to years’ worth of tree planting data from Friends of Trees. Specifically, he used the planting data from the nearly 50,000 trees that organization had planted in Portland neighborhoods since 1990. Donovan was able to rule out other possible explanations for the lower death rate like race, education, and income, by using the statistical models using data from the American Community Survey. The findings were published in December 2022 in the journal Environmental International.Donovan’s work has also shown a strong correlation betweensudden tree canopy loss and higher death rates using data from the Midwest where ash trees were suddenly killed by emerald ash borer, leaving residents exposed to air pollution, noise, and other stressors. He has also investigated how pregnant women in Portland who live near large shade trees are less likely to give birth prematurely.
Continuing education credits will be available forconference attendees.Opportunities to be a speaker, panelist or poster presenter areopen until Jan. 31. Visit www.oregoncommunitytrees.org/2026-conference to apply.
Early-bird registration pricing remains $150. Students can register for $80. Ticket includes entry, lunch, snacks, and networking social hour following the conference. Scholarships are available for those with a stated financial need.
Documentary about Hiroshima peace trees in Oregon to screen at film festivals in 2026
Portland filmmaker David Hedberg has completed work on a documentary capturing the effort that led to four dozen Hiroshima peace trees being planted in Oregon. In the film, he shows the trees' meaning, the homes they've found around the state, and the people whose lives they've touched. Hedberg will screen the documentary at a number of film festivals, with community showings planned in latter half of 2026.
Applications for 2026 Arbor Month grants are now open
SALEM, Ore. - Applications are now open for grants from the non-profit Oregon Community Trees to help
communities put on Arbor Month activities. Deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.Oregon Community Trees is offering grants of up to $1,000 to Tree City USA communities in Oregon to enrich their Arbor Month celebrations during April 2026.
Funds may be used to:
- Buy trees, mulch, gloves, and watering contracts to facilitate tree plantings done as part of Oregon
Arbor Month; - Buy tree-related books for local libraries or schools or as give-aways to volunteers or event attendees;
- Pay for posters, flyers, banners or similar items promoting Oregon Arbor Month events, including cost of translation into Spanish or other languages spoken in your community;
- Cover other costs related to public celebrations of Oregon Arbor Month.
Eligible communities need to have been recognized as a Tree City USA for at least one year and have applied for recertification in December 2025. Communities that received the award in 2025 are not eligible for a grant in 2026, but keep those great ideas for next year!
Not sure if your city is eligible for this grant or have a question? Give Avery McChristian
a call at 541-306-0829 or email him at avery.mcchristian@redmondoregon.gov.# # #
OCT elects a new president
Longtime OCT board member Jim Gersbach of Portland was elected president of Oregon Community Trees at the boards March 7, 2025 meeting in Salem. Gersbach, who was born in Oregon, was nominated by outgoing president Tyler Roth. He is the founder of the Ainsworth Linear Arboretum in Portland, a senior planting and pruning crew leader with Friends of Trees, a founding member of Trees for Life Oregon, and an occasional guide at Hoyt Arboretum. He most recently helped a collection of trees at the former Meek Elementary School in Portland win official recognition as a Level 1 Arboretum.
Richard Vasquez has joined OCT board
Oregon Community Trees is pleased to announce Richard Vasquez as the organization's newest board member. Vasquez holds a Bachelor's in Legal Studies and a Master's in Education. He is devoted to teaching learners about the importance of trees and how they can provide healthy environments.Vasquez has experience in Parks for LaneCounty and the Urban Forest Development Cottage Grove, Oregon. As a member of these organizations, he helps with advice on land management, policy, and conservation. Focusing on issues such as carbon, recreation, health, and local impacts, offering valuable community engagement and practical skills for both public and private forests.
He enjoys offering diverse nature immersion through activities like hiking, camping, wildlife watching, and urban forestry, as well as unique options like trail-making and covered bridges.
