FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Dave Martin
646-483-5898
dave.goodgovpodcast@gmail.com
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero has made urban greening a central climate strategy, launching a Million Trees campaign aimed at planting one million trees by 2030. The effort pairs native, drought‑tolerant species with green stormwater infrastructure and a city‑run tree nursery to speed planting and ensure survival in the Sonoran Desert. To date Tucson has planted roughly 150,000 trees and expanded capacity using federal grants and private partnerships.
Romero emphasizes measurable benefits: increased canopy cover reduces local temperatures by an estimated 5–8 degrees, improves equity in neighborhoods with historically low tree cover, and lowers heat‑related health risks. The city funds the Storm to Shade program through a small water utility fee, captures monsoon runoff for irrigation, and trains youth through nonprofit partners to plant and care for trees.
Tree planting sits inside a broader resilience agenda — Tucson Resilient Together and One Water 2100 — that aligns water security, climate adaptation and cultural preservation. Romero says the city pursues grants aggressively (USDA, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act) and embeds equity officers and a chief resilience officer to ensure investments reach underserved neighborhoods.
Romero also links environment and economy, noting Tucson’s unique cultural and natural assets drive $1 billion in annual tourism and support 52,000 arts‑related jobs. Her message to residents: engage with local government, share ideas, and trust that coordinated planning plus community input can deliver tangible results — cooler streets, more jobs, and a healthier city for future generations.
Pull quotes:
- “The 120/100 is our strategy as a city on how we live in drought and still have water for another hundred years.” — Regina Romero
- “By planting trees we can drop urban temperatures by 5–8 degrees.” — Regina Romero
- “You still can trust your local government, and you can make a difference.” — Regina Romero
- “We created a tree center because nurseries couldn’t grow trees fast enough.” — Regina Romero