Nearly a year after the City Council held its first-ever hearing on urban forest canopy, the Forest for All NYC coalition applauds newly introduced legislation that will help the City protect and expand its more than 7 million trees and require ongoing monitoring of canopy cover across the city. These actions will increase community resiliency, equity, and quality of life through protection, maintenance, and expansion of the New York City urban forest. By mandating its first master plan, New York would join other large municipalities like Denver, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Sacramento, and Charlotte who have already taken this action.Read More >
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — New York City’s urban forest does more than provide shade and beautify neighborhoods. Trees throughout the five boroughs serve as vital mitigators of the impacts of climate change, absorbing stormwater and lowering temperatures on dangerously hot days.Read More >
Around 22% of New York City is covered by trees right now. The City Council wants to increase that to 30%.
At a Council Committee on Parks and Recreation hearing Tuesday, members discussed how to protect the more than 50% of city trees managed by the Parks Department, in addition to planting new ones.Read More >
The city needs to adopt an urban forest master plan, says Council Member Erik Bottcher.
His bill is part of a tree-based package sponsored by Bottcher and Council Members Gale Brewer and Shekar Krishnan.Read More >
A coalition of 28 City Council members are calling on Adams to increase the number of trees throughout the city, particularly in neighborhoods that have little green space.Read More >
New Yorkers love their trees and appreciate the true value of their presence. Trees unite us in the places we gather, provide shade to keep our children cool when they play, and improve our overall well-being by reducing stress.Read More >
New Data released by the NYC Mayor’s Office appears to show that the city is planting far fewer trees this fiscal ear when compared to last year and has led to some criticism from environmental groups. However, that’s not necessarily the full picture, as the Parks Department says in reality they’re on track to have one of their best tree planting seasons of the decade.Read More >
The number of new trees planted across New York City’s public spaces fell to the lowest level in 15 years, the latest sign that Mayor Eric Adams is failing to keep pace with the growing calls to expand the urban forest.Read More >
A staff of just 302 people tend to a crop of over 865,000 trees across the city. Adams’ preliminary budget aims to slash $46 million from the Parks Department, which environmentalists fear signals a step back in the mayor’s promise to keep New York City’s canopy alive and growing.Read More >
Andrew Reinmann looked past the buildings on a recent afternoon in Harlem and focused instead on the trees. Along St. Nicholas Terrace, Dr. Reinmann noted rows of London planes and oaks embedded in cement.Read More >