2025 Tree Report: 49,836 Trees, Tree City USA Founder

The 2025 Tree Report, a summary of Salem tree projects, shows that 49,836 documented city trees exist in Salem, located in parks and rights of way.

Tree-related projects in 2025 included:

Emerald Ash Borer Planning: Emerald ash borer is the most destructive forest pest in the history of North America. It was first detected in Oregon in 2022. Since then, Salem has been taking steps to prepare and plan for the emerald ash borer in our community.

Urban Forestry Internships: Using U.S. Forest Service funding, the Urban Forestry department launched a three-year internship program to hire six interns with the goal of increasing urban tree canopy and providing career development opportunities. Interns have been planting, watering, removing and pruning trees, and leading volunteer planting events.

Preparing for 50^th Tree City USA Award: In 1976, the Arbor Day Foundation partnered with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters to launch Tree City USA. The goal was to recognize communities dedicated to their community forests. That first year, 42 communities across 16 states joined the program, including the City of Salem, making Salem the oldest Tree City USA in Oregon.