The city of Tampa has set the goal of planting 30,000 new trees by the year 2030, according to a city news release.
“I am enlisting everyone — city government, individuals, businesses, neighborhood groups — for this crucial mission, because Tampa’s tree canopy needs help,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, said in the release. “We need to act quickly and decisively to replenish our invaluable urban forest, which has decreased over the past decade.”
The multi-part plan involves “the planting of trees on both private property and in public spaces,” Castor said.
The announcement comes as a new, thorough assessment of Tampa’s citywide tree canopy coverage dropped by 2.3% percent since 2016, the release says.
The report providing information about the size, composition, health and distribution of Tampa’s trees found canopy coverage of 30% of the city’s total land area, its lowest point in 26 years, the release adds.
Tampa has been a nationally recognized Tree City for 41 years.
Its tree ordinance requires an assessment of the tree canopy and urban forest every five years, with today’s results reflecting data collected in 2021, according to the release.
In its announcement, the city detailed Mayor Castor’s tree initiative, which includes these elements:
- Expanding the city’s Tree-mendous Tampa program to allow people to receive up to five free trees (up from two)
- Improving use of the city’s tree trust funds and working with the Tampa City Council to increase resources used to maintain the existing tree canopy
- Enlisting frontline workers in stormwater, mobility, water and other city departments to identify key opportunities for trees and to make planting trees a higher priority
- Continuing the Mayor’s Tree Giveaway, providing residents with 1,000 free trees annually
- Aggressively enforce existing laws and maximize fines for illegal tree destruction where appropriate
- Launching a new voucher program to encourage and help people buy trees from local nurseries
- Supporting quarterly neighborhood-based tree planting projects
- Implementing a Neighborhood Tree Stewardship program to educate residents on tree care and the urban forest
The mayor said the 30,000 new trees will be a mix of shade, native and specialty trees. She also noted that maintaining and keeping healthy the existing canopy is as important as planting new trees.
For more information, visit the City of Tampa’s website at Tampa.gov/trees.
Published May 03, 2023
