News

Tree Giveaway

Save the date! Our annual Tree Giveaway will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2012 on the NW corner of Fifth Avenue and Dolores across the street from the Post Office in Carmel. This event provides free native Monterey Pines and California Coastal Live Oaks to Carmel residents.

2011 Annual Arbor Day Event

Friends of Carmel Forest and the City of Carmel held their Annual Arbor Day event on October 27, 2011 at Sunset Center. This year's theme "Celebrating Sustainability" began with an introduction by the Mayor and a presentation by City Forester, Mike Branson. The event featured Joyce Stevens, author of "Coastal California's Living Legacy: The Monterey Pine Forest" and a talk on neutral grid archicture by Paul Byrne, LEED Architect.

The goal of the event was to celebrate local efforts to bring sustainability to Carmel. “A sustainable Carmel requires a sustainable forest,” said Steve Brooks, president of Friends of Carmel Forest. “This forum will showcase people who are making a positive impact in our community.”


2010 Annual Arbor Day Event
Friends of the Carmel Forest and the City of Carmel held an Arbor Day event on October 17, 2010 at Sunset Center’s Carpenter Hall in Carmel. The annual event started in 2006 to provide information and foster discussion on issues related to living within Carmel’s native forest.

The Arbor Day event showcased paintings and art depicting Carmel’s iconic Monterey Pine and Monterey Cypress trees. Judged by the Center for Photographic Art and the Carmel Art Association, first place winners were awarded $250.00 each, including Robert Lewis for his painting View of Bay and Art Haseltine for his photograph entitled Forest Sunrise.

The Arbor Day event featured a keynote address entitled “The Iconic Trees of Carmel – Monterey Pine and Monterey Cypress” by Jim Rieser, owner of J. Rieser Fine Art Gallery.

Known worldwide for it’s exceptional beauty and unique ecosystem, the Carmel forest faces challenges including an aging tree population, development impacts, and disease. “We are home to rare Monterey Pines and Monterey Cypress that need to be treasured and cared for by all Carmel residents,” states Clayton Anderson, president of Friends of Carmel Forest.

Friends of Carmel Forest Team up with SPCA Wildlife Center
Friends of Carmel Forest have teamed up with the SPCA of Monterey County's Wildlife Center with the goal of educating the public on caring for trees and the animals that call them home.

The Wildlife Center acts as a nursery for hundreds of nestling birds orphaned each spring. Many wild animals are orphaned each spring as a result of human activities such as spring tree trimming. Friends of Carmel Forest will be promoting the Wildlife Center's What to do with an Orphaned or Injured Bird literature via mailings and their website. The brochure includes instructions on what to do if a nestling or fledgling is found on the ground, as well as preventative measures to avoid harming wildlife.

Friends of Carmel Forest and the Wildlife Center are asking the public to avoid trimming trees during the April to September baby bird season and to only use knowledgeable pruning services approved by the City of Carmel. All native bird species, including eggs and babies, are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act, and violations could result in fines.

"We're excited about partnering with the SPCA," says Clayton Anderson, president of Friends of Carmel Forest. "We are both trying to preserve and protect an amazing ecosystem that supports a complex web of life, including our own."

Forest Theatre Renovation
Founded in 1910, the Forest Theater is scheduled to be renovated. We want to ensure the forest that surrounds the theater is preserved and an Environmental Impact Report is required. Please click here to send an email to the City of Carmel to ensure the forest is preserved.

Carmel Forest Restoration
The forest needs your help! Last November, our city-wide survey found 362 trees have been removed and not replaced. Though, the City has agreed to fund two part-time waterers who can care for 100 young trees per year, we need your voice to ensure the forest is fully restored. Please click here to send an email to ask the City of Carmel to make forest restoration a priority.

Articles

The Beauty and Value of the Urban Forest
Monterey Herald - October 21, 2008

Friends of Carmel Forest scores more room in city budget for seedling care
Monterey County Weekly - June 19, 2008

Progress Reports
2007
2006
2005

Surveys
Coming soon.