Richard Alles

San Antonio | Tree advocate

Richard Alles is the executive director for the Citizens Tree Coalition in San Antonio, which works to protect urban trees.  The Coalition has noted that urban trees provide stormwater protection, air pollution removal, energy use reduction, historic ties, and property value enhancement.  The Coalition was formed in 1999 in response to concerns about tree-clearing associated with commercial and subdivision development and road construction.  A 2002 study found that San Antonio had lost 45,000 net acres of urban tree canopy from 1985 through 2001.  In response, Alles and the Coalition have worked on organizing tree plantings, strengthening tree-protection ordinances, and pressing for ordinance enforcement.