In 2021 the University of California Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County partnered with the City of Santa Rosa to develop a recommend palette of tree species that are likely to thrive in our projected climate in the years 2050-2100. Forecasted changes in our region’s climate will require heightened focus and forward-thinking programs that will enable the community and its residents to thrive.
Trees provide critical ecosystem services and are an effective, inexpensive way for individuals to participate in solutions to address climate change and its impacts.
Our Climate Forward Trees project was modelled after a University of California at Davis project called Climate Ready Trees. We utilized California climate change projection tools, using a methodology called “substitution of space for time”, to project the future climate for Santa Rosa and select a city with a current climate similar to the projected climate of Santa Rosa. We used a weighting model based on 8 selection criteria to rate the trees.
The list of Climate Forward Trees for Santa Rosa can be found here:
This is the list that our program developed will be part of a comprehensive outreach campaign to promote the use of appropriate species to plant now that will thrive in the future. For more information on our Climate Forward Trees project and planting & maintaining healthy trees, watch the following UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County videos:
- Climate Forward Trees webinar, July 2022
- Climate Forward Trees Project Introduction
- Climate Forward Trees Project Poster Overview
Key Resources
Climate Projections
- Climate Action 2020 and Beyond: Sonoma County Regional Climate Action Plan (Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority, Santa Rosa, Ca. 2016)
- Projected Climate Changes and Associated impacts
- Cal-Adapt climate projections for 2050 and beyond
Expert advice
- UC Davis’ Climate Ready Trees project
- Janet Hartin, Area Environmental Horticulture Advisor, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Igor Lacan Cooperative Extension Advisor, Specialist in Urban Forestry, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
- McPherson, E. G. , Berry, , & van Doorn, N. (2018) Performance testing to identify climate-ready trees. Forest Service U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In the Press
- Planting trees for a hotter future, Press Democrat 3/9/24
Tree Resources
- California Native Plant Society Calscape
- Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute at Cal Poly ‘SelecTree’
- Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS)
- City of Paso Robles Water Conserving Plants Guide
- Exploring Trees with Children Resources
Tree List – Sample outreach
- City of Santa Rosa Climate Ready Tree List PDF (213.93 KB)
- Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership
- Water Smart Plant Picker - This resource was updated to feature the Climate Ready Trees.
Updated March 2025