Report on Save A Tree Pilot Program

RHN Report on Save A Tree pilot program

Hello again SF Urban Forestry and Recreation & Parks,

I am writing to provide an update along with recommendations from the Save A Tree pilot program conducted by Russian Hill Neighbors from May 15, 2024, through the end of December 2024. As you may recall, this initiative was designed to address the growing concern of dog urine negatively affecting the health of our urban trees. Our goal was to educate dog owners and walkers about the harm caused by dog urine and encourage behaviors that could mitigate this issue.

Background on the Pilot Program

There are about 2,500 tree beds in Russian Hill. Many don’t have trees. Some have guardrails that prevent dogs from relieving themselves in the tree bed, so we are estimating there could be over 1,000 trees being peed on daily by many many dogs.

To achieve our goal, we designed a sign that was non-judgmental and light-hearted, which included a QR code linking to educational materials about the issue, (you can read HERE), as well as a 3-question survey to gather feedback, (you can read HERE).

The signs were small (4″x6″), attached to stakes, and were placed in 36 tree beds throughout the neighborhood, focusing primarily on young or newly planted trees. Our goal was to evaluate whether the signs would be effective in informing dog owners, if they would be left in place or taken down, and whether they would receive positive or negative feedback.

Key Findings

1. Lack of Awareness and Desire for Education

• Over the course of the survey, only 11 individuals responded. Of these, 75% were unaware that their dog’s urine could harm trees.*
• More than half of the respondents indicated that they were willing to change their behavior once they understood the impact of dog urine on trees.*

2. Signage Retention

• After 7 months, only 16 of the original 36 signs remained in place. This indicates a need for a more permanent, yet less intrusive way to generate awareness.

Recommendations

Based on the lessons learned from this pilot, we recommend the following steps to ensure the continued protection of our urban trees:

1. Education through Permanent Signage

• Every tree planted should include a small, permanent sign clearly informing the public about the detrimental effects of dog urine on trees. This signage would serve as a constant reminder to dog owners to be mindful of their behavior and would help educate the public in a more lasting way. (Why would we plant new trees and offer no education knowing the high risk they will not be able to thrive?)

2. City-Wide Outreach and Park Signage

• The City should take a more active role in educating dog owners and walkers about the issue. Consider other means to build awareness, perhaps via park signage as an effective way to reach a broad audience, encouraging dog owners to use designated dog parks for their pets and reinforcing the importance of protecting our trees.

 Conclusion

This pilot has shown that dog owners, when informed about the issue, are willing to modify their behavior to protect trees. However, it is clear that broader, more permanent efforts are needed to effectively address this problem on a citywide scale. We urge the City to take a more active role in education and signage to help protect our urban trees from the harmful effects of dog urine.

We look forward to working together to protect our trees and improve the urban environment for all. I would be grateful to hear back from you at your earliest convenience about how you wish to proceed. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,
Barbara Bella

Co-Chair Neighborhood Enhancement

*Survey Results and Comments