The San Diego Parks Foundation, in collaboration with the City of San Diego Parks & Recreation Department and with support through the SDG&E Environmental Champions Initiative, planted its 150th tree this fall. That means the organization is well on its way to reach its goal to plant 300 trees by the end of next year. The milestone tree will take root at a park in the San Diego community of Southcrest, where it will help grow the urban canopy and provide beautiful shade and play spaces for local residents.
The foundation started its tree planting initiative in 2020, recognizing that budget pressures made it hard for the City of San Diego to plant trees as well as install the necessary irrigation to ensure tree survival. Trees are an excellent and beautiful way to reduce pollutant runoff and mitigate the harmful impacts of climate change. Additionally, trees are frequently requested by residents to increase green space in the community and beautify urban landscapes.
SDG&E is supporting the foundation’s work through our signature Environmental Champions initiative, which for the past ten years has provided funding to local nonprofit organizations working to improve the environment in San Diego and southern Orange County. This urban greening project is one example of how SDG&E supports efforts to build climate resilient communities and improve social equity. Science demonstrates that trees improve both air and water quality, temper heat and reduce energy usage through their shade canopy. What’s more they create beautiful and functional green spaces for the community.
Planting 10,000 Trees a Year
Planting trees is key element of our company’s sustainability strategy, a comprehensive blueprint to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, foster energy innovation and conservation and encourage our employees and the communities we serve to take daily action to support a sustainable future for generations to come. One bold goal that SDG&E set last October was to plant at least 10,000 trees each year to support local biodiversity and promote environmental stewardship throughout our region. We are on track to meet that goal by the end of the year, and supporting the San Diego Parks Foundation is just one of the many ways SDG&E is helping plant the right trees in the right places.
SDG&E looks forward to helping the San Diego Parks Foundation reach its 300 trees in three-years goal so that the organization can deliver on its mission to build a world-class inclusive park system that strengthens communities and provides equitable access to recreational opportunities. Learn more about the organization and this tree planting program by visiting www.sandiegoparksfoundation.org.