While the Midpeninsula’s summer has been mild, much of the rest of the state, nation, and world are experiencing extreme heat events. Finding ways to cool our planet and keep our communities safe is the urgent focus of a lot of research and high-tech investment. Fortunately, nature-based climate adaptation features in much of the coverage as part of the solution in our community, and frankly, everywhere. This year was also the first time we have seen tree planting and tree-related activities as a focus of a national government initiative and opportunity. 

For Canopy, continuing the work to promote and provide nature-based solutions as an integral piece of climate mitigation and adaptation is important. As noted in the EU’s recent statement for climate action: ”It is up to us to adapt to protect …: our health and our lives.”

And what are nature-based solutions? For Canopy that means trees and their benefits. In addition to blocking the sun's heating rays, a tree cools itself and the air around it by converting the water in its leaves into water vapor in the air – a process called transpiration cooling or evapotranspiration. This natural air conditioning benefits our homes, people, and other plants. But beyond the cooling effects, trees also enhance biodiversity, stabilize soils, and clean and recycle water, all critically important benefits in urban or natural forests and a chance to mitigate the effect of climate change in our neighborhoods.  

We are sharing a TINY portion of this summer’s news stories, which often included the wise counsel of shade trees and nature-based adaptation as an important part of the cooling solution. Canopy remains steadfast in our work to address the adverse heat impact on our communities.

The New York Times: One Neighborhood, 90 Trees and an 82-Year-Old Crusader

NPR: Heat waves amid climate change; Detroit, 10 years after filing for bankruptcy

WSJ: To Offset Climate Change, Scientists Tout City Trees and Ultra-White Paint

NPR: Your air conditioner isn't built for this heat. 5 tips can boost performance

CNN: We can’t air-condition our way out of America’s heat crisis

NPR: How Extreme Heat Affects Our Mental Health

Have you heard or read more mentions of nature-based adaption? Please share them with us!  

On August 15, Canopy welcomed Jean-Paul “JP” Renaud as our Executive Director. JP comes to Canopy from TreePeople, Southern California’s largest environmental nonprofit organization, where he served as Chief Communications Officer. In his first week, JP met with staff and board members, attended outreach events, and dove headfirst into getting to know the community better.

We also wish to give a warm farewell to Kammy Lo, who served as Interim Executive Director after Catherine Martineau’s retirement in February 2023 and assisted the Transition Task Force in their months-long search for JP. Kammy plans to spend some time traveling and visiting family before returning to support Canopy as a committee member and volunteer.

 Kammy climbing a strangler fig in Monte Verde, Costa Rica in January 2023.

Canopy Tree Awards and Volunteer Party

Saturday, September 9, 2023

3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Bloomhouse, East Palo Alto

Join Canopy for a free community celebration dedicated to our 2023 Canopy Tree Awardees and the volunteers, partners, and leaders who help grow healthy trees and healthy communities!

Hosted at Bloomhouse in East Palo Alto, festivities will include indoor/outdoor mingling and games, refreshments, interactive displays, and a brief program toasting our 2023 Awardees and their contributions to our communities' urban forests.

Canopy has been recognizing urban forest champions since 1996. This year we're thrilled to honor 13 volunteers, leaders, and partners who have significantly contributed to our local urban forests and communities. Please join us in thanking these dedicated awardees!

Thank you to our Tree Award sponsors!

Here’s what Canopy volunteers and staff members were up to over the last month!

This month Canopy is delighted to welcome four new members to our Board of Directors - Mar Y Sol Alvarado, Philip Jonas, Peying Lee, and Jose Talavera. These passionate tree champions bring their unique skills to Canopy’s team as they address organizational growth and long-term financial sustainability.

Get to know the new members — and the talented Advisors and Committee members who share their expertise with Canopy — in our latest blog.

This month Lily Heidger, Canopy’s first AmeriCorps VISTA member, concluded her year of service and is road tripping across the wild, wild west before starting a joint Master’s and PhD program in Geography at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her placement was the result of a multi-year partnership with Stanford, Saint Mary’s College of California (SMC), and AmeriCorps VISTA to strengthen partnerships between higher education and non-profit organizations and creating positive social change in Bay Area communities.

In year two of the AmeriCorps partnership, we’re thrilled to welcome Oscar Rodriguez-Ortiz as our new VISTA member! A graduate of the University of California, Davis with a major in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning, Oscar joins us to continue the community engagement and data management projects begun in year one.

Grants

Bosch Community Fund for Eco+STEM education

The Franklin and Catherine Johnson Foundation for general operating support

Give the gift of trees

Your tax-deductible gift to Canopy helps grow green, healthy communities where people and nature thrive. Ask your employer today about matching gifts—you might just double your impact!

Canopy's mission is to grow the urban forest in Midpeninsula communities for the benefit of all.

Our vision is a day when every resident of the Midpeninsula can step outside to walk, play, and thrive under the shade of healthy trees.