A volunteer is removing a new tree from its old plastic container to plant in a neighborhood in South Tucson on Saturday, Dec. 17th. Tucson Clean and Beautiful planted over 40 trees during the day.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero promised to have one million trees planted by 2030 when she took office in 2020. So far, almost 60,000 have been planted.
In collaboration with Tucson Clean and Beautiful, volunteers plant upwards of 100 trees every Saturday morning between October and March. Natasha Chhabra, the Tucson Million Trees Program Coordinator, says that the program works to amplify trees that are made for the desert climate.
A volunteer for Tucson Clean and Beautiful is digging a new hole in the ground for a new tree in a neighborhood in South Tucson on Saturday, Dec. 17th. The organization encourages youth to volunteer by giving them a stipend of $30 for their work.
“We are keeping in mind the fact that resources are going to be scarce as we move forward in the future,” Chhabra said. “We want to make sure that these trees will still survive and thrive without a bunch of water.”
VIEW LARGER A volunteer is opening the roots of a new tree that was planted in a resident's backyard in a South Tucson neighborhood on Saturday, Dec. 17th. Planting begins at 9 a.m. and lasts until 11 a.m. The program works to improve tree equity to combat rising temperatures due to climate change, especially in heat-vulnerable neighborhoods. Residents may be able to report new trees that are planted on the city’s website.
A volunteer for Tucson Clean and Beautiful is preparing a new tree to be planted in a neighborhood in South Tucson on Saturday, Dec. 17th. The roots of a new tree have to be opened up after being removed from its original plastic container to help with growth.
Trees are offered for free or at a discounted price if the neighborhood tree equity score is below .70. To see what score each area has, head to the Tree Equity Dashboard for more information.
VIEW LARGER Jaime Cabrales, the sustainability leader for Tucson Clean and Beautiful, helps volunteers plant new trees in a neighborhood in South Tucson on Saturday, Dec. 17th. Cabrales considers themself to be an environmentalist and a sustainability advocate. This program is one of several the city has implemented to combat climate change, including Green Stormwater Infrastructure and Tucson Resilient Together, a new climate action plan that is expected to be released in January 2023.
A Tucson Clean and Beautiful volunteer is creating a mound of dirt around a new tree in a neighborhood in South Tucson on Saturday, Dec. 17th. The mound helps keep the mulch in place to protect the new tree.
A Tucson Clean and Beautiful volunteer is putting mulch around a new tree in a neighborhood in South Tucson on Saturday, Dec. 17th. The mulch helps protect the tree from the harsh desert climate.
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