City's Forest Officer introduces Tree Keeper database to inventory all city trees

On March 10, 2021, Los Angeles’s first City Forest Officer, Ms. Rachel Malarich, gave a virtual presentation and answered questions on using the city’s tree inventory website, called Tree Keeper. This is part of the city’s new Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP).

The website is still a work in progress but the initial phase is to inventory all trees in public right-of-way areas, and trees in our parks. The website will also offer sites that have vacancies for trees to be planted. This website is expected to function as a tool for various city departments in order to have efficient management of our city trees.

There is a team called the Davey Resource Group (DRG) that is in the midst of field work by visiting trees in the public right-of-way and in the parks to count and classify the trees on how old they, what species are they and their condition. Urban Forestry is also using the website now to document trees that are being worked on.

Currently, the inventory does not cover trees on private properties but that will be addressed at a future date.

There was public interest in data on tree canopy coverage in the city, as well as tree removals from development sites, particularly in the private sectors.

The Tree Keeper data will generate a tree inventory for each Neighborhood Council shortly after the completion of the field work.

As the City's first ever Forest Officer, Ms. Malarich is excited to connect regularly with the public and urban forest stakeholders. Future sessions will also include invited urban forestry, tree and ecology experts.

SAVE THE DATE! The next 30-minute “Lunch and Learn” session on March 24th, 12:30 to 1:00 PM.

For more information on the new city’s tree inventory, see links below:

Tree Keeper database

“Growing Vibrant LA Communities: Inventory into Action” (2 hrs 30 mins)

Tree Inventory Schedule, Bureau of Street Services

Tree Inventory Notification Registration (select a neighborhood council(s) to subscribe to automatic email updates)