Charlotte, North Carolina is proud to be known and valued for its vibrant urban tree canopy. When viewed from above, tree canopy covers 47% of the city, which makes Charlotte one of the highest canopy cities in the U.S. On top of the aesthetic benefits Charlotte's trees provide, the city receives over $335 million in real benefits and services from these trees every year.
Despite these valuable benefits, the city's tree canopy is at risk. The two most pressing concerns are a large population of mature trees reaching the end of their natural lifespan, along with significant losses from development as the city grows. Loss of tree canopy results in serious public health issues, including poor air and water quality, and declining communities and wildlife habitat. To ensure that this canopy is preserved and maintained for generations to come, both the City of Charlotte and TreesCharlotte have spent much of 2016 proactively working to identify the greatest challenges facing this important city asset, as well as the most comprehensive ways to reach the city's 50% canopy goal by 2050. Thanks to involvement of over 40 organizations, almost 3,000 public citizens, and the urban forestry expertise and national perspective provided by Davey Resource Group, a clear path forward has been established through twelve action steps. |
Download the 2017 Charlotte Urban Forest Master Plan summary document (PDF). |