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Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization committed to revitalizing San Francisco’s urban forest with regular neighborhood-based tree plantings and maintenance throughout San Francisco.

Since its founding in 1981, FUF has helped San Franciscans plant more than 40,000 trees along city streets – more than all the trees in Golden Gate Park.

Through partnerships with government, corporations, foundations, and community volunteers, FUF has created a model program that has significantly expanded San Francisco’s urban forest. Through these partnerships, government and private funding provides the capital to buy the trees, while volunteers provide the “sweat equity” to plant and care for them.

Trees planted by FUF beautify the neighborhood and transform city streets with seasonal color and fragrance. They also help fight pollution by filtering particulates from the air and releasing oxygen, reduce reflected heat and glare, and absorb traffic noise. A recent analysis of San Francisco’s trees calculated the net benefit of the urban forest at $7.5 million annually.

FUF’s tree planting and maintenance programs instill community spirit and neighborhood pride. Each year, Friends of the Urban Forest helps communities plant over 1,000 trees. At neighborhood plantings neighbors meet, often for the first time, to improve their streetscape and enhance their community.

Friends of the Urban Forest seeks to increase public awareness and appreciation of the importance of trees to San Francisco. In addition to its newsletter and other periodic publications, it offers tree tours, quarterly pruning workshops, and leadership training for community volunteers.