program in Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry. Many of his former students are now industry leaders. Greg has a publication list longer than your arm and his research, creating measurable assessments that quantify and monetize the benefits that trees bring to our cities, has been invaluable to the urban forestry world. Because of Greg’s research, states, cities, and organizations have been able to justify the need for more trees in our cities. Thanks to him, billions of dollars have been invested in growing robust urban forests across the country and especially within California, because we can justify their benefits from carbon sequestration, air quality improvement, energy savings, stormwater management, and on and on.

Another important part of Greg’s work with the USFS focused on the concept of “Climate-Ready Trees.” He sought trees that would likely thrive in future climate scenarios – basically creating the urban forest that will be best for our region 50 years into the future. These are trees that are uniquely tolerant to future drought, pest and disease threats. Once Greg joined our board Tree Davis integrated Climate-Ready Trees species into our plantings. Nearly all of the 1,000 trees that we planted in the City of Davis over the past four years were Climate-Ready, thanks to Greg’s efforts and the efforts of other great scientists in that program such as Drs. Alison Berry (UCD) and Natalie Van Doorn (USFS).