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Tree Commission: Charlottesville canopy estimated near 38%, commission urges more staff and long‑term planting
Summary
The Charlottesville Tree Commission told council the city’s urban canopy has fallen to about 38% (Planet Geo 2023 estimate), described stark neighborhood disparities and a need for thousands of annual plantings, and urged hiring a second urban forester to manage preservation and code work.
Micaisha Tolbert, outgoing chair of the Charlottesville Tree Commission, told the City Council on Jan. 21 that a Planet Geo analysis places the city’s urban tree canopy at roughly 38% and that the commission will seek more precise, on‑the‑ground vegetation analysis this year.
The commission said that loss reflects multiple drivers — storms, development, pests and invasive vines — and warned of stark disparities across neighborhoods. Tolbert highlighted two neighborhoods, 10th and Page and Star Hill, as being under the commission’s 20% vulnerability benchmark.
“Last year we discussed the urban tree canopy…
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