Citywide urban forest plan seeks public input to reach 30% canopy; city groups outline timeline and concerns

SARAH BALASCHERI, urban forest program manager at Partnerships for Parks, briefed the Community Board 11 Parks Committee on June 12 about a city-led effort to develop an urban forest plan and solicited public input.

The plan, which the mayor's office of climate and environmental justice is leading with a core project team, aims to outline strategies to protect, care for and equitably expand tree canopy citywide to 30 percent, Balascheri said. "The plan doesn't exist yet," she told the committee, calling the current work a public-input phase prior to writing recommendations.

The plan team includes nonprofit and agency partners and a consultant. City Parks Foundation, Partnerships for Parks, Natural Areas Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy are part of the core project team, Balascheri said. The Parks Department, which manages most public trees, is also involved; WXY, a design firm, was retained to help with research, writing and an outreach website. Advisory groups convened by the mayor's office include stakeholder and technical advisory committees with representatives of business improvement districts, nonprofit groups, private landowners and members of the public.

Why it matters: Tree canopy influences heat, air quality and stormwater management. Balascheri said trees reduce urban heat and help keep stormwater out of sewers. The presentation emphasized environmental justice findings…