For nearly 20 years, the non-profit Canopy has sought to protect and nurture Palo Alto’s diverse array of trees

Those familiar with Palo Alto are well aware of the value the city places on its trees. Palo Alto (Spanish for “tall tree”) is named after El Palo Alto, the long-standing redwood near the intersection of Alma Street and El Camino Real. And for nearly 20 years, the non-profit Canopy has sought to protect and nurture Palo Alto’s diverse array of trees.

“Our mission is to bring the life-giving benefits of trees to the schools, neighborhoods, and public spaces of the San Francisco Mid-Peninsula,” Canopy states on its website. “We envision a day when every resident of this area can walk, play, and thrive under the shade of a healthy tree.”

Canopy’s arboreal goals are varied and wide-reaching, with programs that include tree planting (the organization recently completed a project to plant 1,000 trees on underserved school campuses), tree care, education and outreach, urban forest advocacy and community services. The non-profit’s website also features a host a valuable links and resources, such as tree planting and care, pest and disease awareness, volunteer and donation opportunities, tree-walk maps and a calendar of special events.

For more information about Canopy, visit www.canopy.org.