Urban Forestry Managment Plan (UFMP)

A man uses a shovel to dig a hole for a young tree on a grassy lawn while a small child in a pink jacket stands nearby. In the background, two workers look on next to a white utility truck parked along a residential street.

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Gemini said A large group of people gathers on a dirt path and field near a playground under a bright, overcast sky. Many individuals are dressed in casual athletic wear or matching blue t-shirts, while a colorful toy wheelbarrow sits on the ground in the foreground.

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A group of adults and children are gathered on a grassy lawn to plant a new tree, holding shovels and standing near a safety barricade. The scene takes place in a residential area on an overcast day, with a white pickup truck parked along the curb in the background.

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Gemini said A group of young adults stands in a circle outdoors near a playground and a large leafy tree, appearing to engage in an outreach event. Several individuals wear casual clothing and backpacks, with a parking lot and a clear blue sky visible in the background.

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Gemini said A group of Girl Scouts from the Salinas Valley

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A woman in a white jacket and tan hat holds a colorful poster board for two young women to review during an outdoor community event. In the background, other participants gather near a table with supplies under a partly cloudy sky.

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Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) Vision

The Salinas urban forest is a well-funded and maintained living asset that creates a flourishing shelter enjoyed by all community members and provides shade and protection, fresh air and oxygen, and physical and mental benefits that promote a healthier, sustainable future for all.   

Strategic Plan

The Salinas Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) Strategic Plan provides a roadmap for achieving the City’s vision for a resilient, equitable, and thriving urban forest. The plan is guided by the following principles and strategies.

 

Guiding Principle

 Strategy   
 A sufficiently funded plan The urban forest is sustainably managed through financial investment and staffing. 
 A maintained living asset

Trees are maintained to improve the health, longevity, safety, and functional capacity
of the existing urban forest, and to ensure that the future
urban forest can reach its potential to provide the full range
of environmental benefits and services.
A flourishing tree canopy
enjoyed by all 		 Existing trees are maintained and new trees will be strategically
planted to increase canopy cover equitably across Salinas.
 Enhanced quality of life for
community members		  The quality of life in Salinas is further enhanced by benefits
and services provided by the urban forest.
 Prepared for climate change

The thriving urban forest results in reduced urban heat islands,
increased energy efficiency, resilience to pests and diseases, and
landscapes that conserve water.
 A balance between trees and
infrastructure

Trees are included in the beginning of the planning process to
provide landscaped settings and habitat, maximize environmental benefits,
and reduce infrastructure conflicts.

Why Salinas Needs an Urban Forest Management Plan

Salinas is home to over 166,000 residents but has a citywide tree canopy of just 7.8%. Trees are essential for shade, cleaner air, and a cooler, healthier city, yet many neighborhoods, especially those with dense housing, lack sufficient tree cover.

The Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) provides a roadmap to grow, protect, and maintain Salinas’ trees over the next decades. The plan focuses on equity, climate resilience, and long-term care, ensuring that all residents benefit from a thriving urban forest.

A healthy urban forest reduces heat, improves air quality, conserves water, and supports public health. By investing in trees today, Salinas can create a more livable, resilient, and beautiful city for everyone.

Citywide Canopy Goal

Tree Equity

Not all neighborhoods in Salinas enjoy the same access to trees, shade, or clean air. Communities with fewer resources and lower incomes often have fewer trees and face higher heat and pollution, reflecting long-standing inequalities.

The Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) looks at differences across neighborhoods using council districts and census tracts, taking into account population, land use, current tree cover, and available planting space. In addition, the UFMP shows where new trees and improvements can have the greatest impact, making neighborhoods cooler, healthier, and greener.

Funding Source

Funding for this California Climate Investments Grant Project has been provided from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund administered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Urban and Community Forestry Program.

 

California_Department of Forestry and Fire Protection LogoCalifornia Climate Investments

 

Refrence Documents

Urban Forest Management Plan(PDF, 43MB)

 

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