Commission hears plan to raise canopy to 25% by 2035; consultants recommend community forester and stronger tree protections

City of West Palm Beach commissioners on Aug. 11 reviewed an updated tree canopy assessment and a set of strategies aimed at increasing urban canopy to 25% by 2035, consultants and city staff said. The presentation said the city’s developed urban area has about 24% canopy cover (34% when Grassy Waters Preserve is included) and recommended planting roughly 12,620 trees across the next decade to meet the target.

The plan’s authors, Karen Firehawk of the Green Infrastructure Center and staff from the Office of Sustainability, recommended a mix of municipal plantings, private-sector engagement and code changes. "Right tree, right place is the mantra," Firehawk said, arguing for intentional planting, long-term maintenance and targeted work in the hottest, least-shaded neighborhoods.

Why it matters: Urban trees reduce heat-island effects, improve air and water quality, absorb stormwater and provide other public-health and safety benefits. City staff and the consultant stressed that planting alone will not be enough without funding for follow-up care and enforcement to prevent early mortality of newly planted trees.

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