Ulfelder explained that efforts to improve water and air quality and expand urban forests and green spaces can help wildlife thrive and stay in NYC. Planting more trees, maintaining healthy forests and preserving greenery – from individual street trees and small wood areas on private property to larger forests in city parks – all play an important role in protecting ecosystems, he said.
NYC published its first-ever Urban Forest Plan in April, establishing a roadmap toward 30% tree canopy by 2040.
“The more we can expand our urban forest, and get to that 30% goal by 2040, that would be really good for wildlife,” Ulfelder said.Read More >
Organized by the Forest for All NYC coalition in partnership with NYC Parks and the Parks and Open Space Partners coalition, City of Forest Day will host over 150 free urban forest-related events for the fifth year running. The event aims to raise awareness around the importance of the city’s trees and how New Yorkers can take part in caring for them.Read More >
Family Time
City of Forest Day offers more than a hundred free activities in every borough on Oct. 3, giving city kids ample opportunities to explore the forests around them. Among the highlights are a hike through High Rock Park on Staten Island led by the Urban Park Rangers and, in the Bronx, a nature walk through Shoelace Park and canoeing on the Bronx River.Read More >
City of Forest Day at Snug Harbor | 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Celebrate New York City’s urban forest with a full day of activities including forest bathing therapy, tree identification scavenger hunts, apple cider pressing, tree mulching workshops, and guided walks. The day concludes with a presentation on community-managed forest planning. All activities are free with registration requested. View the full list of events and times on the Snug Harbor website here.Read More >
Fourth Annual ‘City of Forest Day’ Encourages New Yorkers to Appreciate, Enjoy and Care for Trees in NYC
With over 120 events, this city-wide day of action, education and fun celebrates and stewards our city's vital trees across all five boroughsRead More >
In New York City, parks and natural areas are some of the last free amenities, serving as a lifeline for residents. With the city’s more than seven million trees, these outdoor spaces form critical infrastructure that strengthens the city’s ability to adapt to climate change while providing joy and connection for residents, without adding to a family’s budget.
This year’s City budget offers a meaningful opportunity for Mayor Mamdani and the New York City Council to commit resources to the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers. If leaders want to alleviate affordability challenges and help protect residents against climate change, now is the moment to invest in the green infrastructure that places those goals within reach.Read More >
New York City is rethinking its urban landscape through one of its simplest and most visible elements: trees. City officials have released a new urban forestry plan that lays out how the city intends to raise tree‑canopy coverage from 23.4% to 30% by 2040. The strategy focuses on three main areas: planting more trees along streets, expanding canopy on private residential properties, and targeting neighborhoods with the least existing green space.Read More >
New York City is about to get more shade.
City officials released a new plan this week to shroud 30% of the five boroughs in tree canopy by 2040. The city’s current tree canopy cover is is 23.4% — or about 45,000 acres, equal to the size of Brooklyn.
Officials said the benefits of trees go beyond cool shade. More tree cover also mitigates flooding and increases habitat for wildlife.Read More >
Dan Lambe, CEO of the Arbor Day Foundation, and Ben Osborne, assistant commissioner of forestry and horticulture at NYC Parks, talk about Arbor Day and NYC’s new Urban Forest Plan for expanding the tree canopy.Read More >
The city’s first “Urban Forest Plan” shows tree coverage across the five boroughs is 23%.
It plans to grow that number to 30% by 2040.
Peggy Shepard, the executive director of We Act, an environmental justice group, joined “NY1 at Ten” on Friday to talk about how the lack of tree shade in low-income communities has dangerous impacts.Read More >