Montclair State interns present township tree-canopy study, warn of health impacts

Montclair State University interns presented their summer 'green team' study to the Township of Washington council on Aug. 3, sharing maps, survey results and a planting guide that local officials said made the scale of canopy loss "dramatic." The students told the council they had surveyed residents, mapped aerial imagery and prepared a story map to visualize changes in tree cover.

The students reported that preliminary analysis shows the township lost up to 6% of its tree canopy between 1985 and 2023 and that some neighborhoods — notably a census block group in the township's eastern area — experienced declines as high as 15%. "We began our project with preliminary studies that shown that the township has lost up to 6% overall tree canopy coverage from the years 1985 to 2023," the team said. Council members praised the visuals and thanked the students; one council member called the map's sliding comparison "amazing" and said the images made long-term loss easier to see. The presenters recommended continued community outreach, a planting guide tied to the township's replacement policy, and further assessment of air quality in low-canopy areas.