WHY WE DO
WHAT WE DO
SPOKANE PONDEROSA

Mission Statement

We are a catalyst for urban Ponderosa Pine reforestation efforts throughout Spokane County. We work to educate and inform the public, developers, and design professionals about the benefits of Ponderosa Pines. We also support local municipalities in establishing best practices for the care and preservation of our urban forest.

Goals & Objectives

  • Increase public awareness of value, benefits, and needs of Ponderosa Pine.
  • Increase public involvement in tree planting.
  • Increase number of trees planted.
  • Inspire, train, and mobilize a dedicated volunteer network. Protect and enhance Spokane County’s urban forest.
  • Increase a high survival rate of planted Ponderosa through community involvement

History And Achievements

Larry Stone founded Spokane Ponderosa in 2011 with the goal of preserving and revitalizing the urban Ponderosa Pine forests of Spokane County.

In 2014, advocacy by Spokane Ponderosa and other community groups helped lead the Spokane City Council to designate the Ponderosa Pine as Spokane’s official city tree. The measure passed unanimously and was signed by Mayor David Condon.

Also in 2014, Spokane Ponderosa organized hundreds of Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and their families to plant 4,200 Ponderosa Pine seedlings along the North Spokane Corridor near Mead.

In 2017, Spokane Ponderosa reached another milestone in its advocacy for the Ponderosa Pine. Working with researchers at Gonzaga University, the organization helped demonstrate the value of incorporating Ponderosa Pines into landscapes along our region’s highways. These efforts contributed to the adoption of Resolution No. 2016-0032, requesting that the Washington State Department of Transportation include Ponderosa Pines in natural landscaping along the North Spokane Freeway, I-90, and other state highways and roadways within the City of Spokane.

Spokane Ponderosa founder and President Larry Stone has also regularly advocated for the Ponderosa Pine through local media, including interviews and an editorial in The Spokesman-Review.

Together with volunteers, researchers, community partners, and municipal leaders, Spokane Ponderosa continues working to preserve and revitalize our region’s native Ponderosa Pine urban forest.

Major Contributors

Thank you for thinking of Spokane Ponderosa! At this time, we are not accepting donations from the general public.

Without your commitment and generosity, our work to preserve this vital part of our local ecosystem and urban forest would not be possible.

FAQ's

Who is Spokane Ponderosa

We are a non profit dedicated to the revitalization of Spokane County’s Ponderosa Pine urban forest.

How does Spokane Ponderosa get funding?

Our funding currently comes from two local contributors. We do not currently accept donations from the general public.

Does Spokane Ponderosa plant trees?

We provide coordination between volunteers and land owners, developers, and government agencies that would like to have seedlings planted on their land. We then provide free Ponderosa Pine seedlings and loan planting tools to the volunteer groups who install the trees.

Does Spokane Ponderosa give away free trees?

We provide Ponderosa Pine seedlings to volunteer groups for reforestation projects. If you have land that you would like to have planted please feel free to contact us.

I’m interested in volunteering, what opportunities are available?

Call 509-343-9087 or use our Contact Form.

Do I need any experience to volunteer?

No. You do not need experience for any of our volunteer opportunities. We provide free training the day of our volunteer planting projects.

Does Spokane Ponderosa trim trees?

Spokane Ponderosa does not provide tree trimming services. Here is a list of local Arborists provided by the City of Spokane Urban Forestry Department.

Does Spokane Ponderosa provide educational talks about Ponderosa Pine to groups?

We’d be happy to meet with your group! Give us a call at (509) 343-9087 or sennd a message on our Website Contact Form.