Benefits of Trees

Trees enrich our communities in so many unique ways.

Provide beauty

Clean our rivers

Reduce Stress

Reduce cooling costs

Clean Air

Traffic calming

Fight climate change

Promote community

Provide a home for wildlife

Decrease noise pollution

The State of DC’s Urban Forest

Every year, we conduct an annual evaluation of the city’s tree canopy. Tree canopy—or tree coverage—refers to the part of a city that is shaded by trees. Imagine for a moment that you’re in a plane flying over Washington, DC, looking down over the city. The trees covering the land below is our tree canopy.

We measure the city’s tree canopy based on four metrics:

Tree Coverage
Tree Health
Tree Protection
Tree Planting

Each metric is evaluated using a standard formula and given a letter grade. This year, we announced that DC received an overall grade of B+. To learn more about the measurements used to determine the final grade, read the full report here.

B+

2023 Overall Grade

How We Can Improve DC’s Urban Forest

DC boasts a robust urban forest, but there’s room to grow. Our Tree Report Card offers a roadmap to a greener, healthier city by increasing and protecting our tree canopy.

Lower the circumference limit for Special Trees.

To safeguard more of our city’s vital tree canopy, we propose lowering the Special Tree protection threshold from 44 inches to 25 inches in circumference. Despite DC’s strong regulations, the city continues to lose trees. This change will shield more trees from removal and help preserve our urban forest.

Increase fees and fines for the removal of Special and Heritage Trees to reflect current inflation rates.

This overdue adjustment is critical to preventing the loss of thousands of irreplaceable trees.

Ensure all fees and fines are deposited to the Tree Fund.

Fines collected through the Office of Administrative Hearings have been misdirected to the City’s General Fund. Casey Trees testified to the Office of Chief Financial Officer regarding the misdirection at Performance Oversight hearings and asks OCFO to prioritize getting this process rectified.

Support the Office of Natural Areas Conservation Legislation Act.

This legislation would better protect and support management of our city forest patches and natural areas. It is currently under consideration by the DC Council.

Protect environmentally sensitive open spaces and forests from development.

By partnering with agencies and landowners to conserve greenspace through easements, we can enhance climate resilience and community access.

Set tree canopy goals for all schools.

Our Tree Report Card reveals a stark contrast between the city’s public schools average 13% tree canopy and the overall 40% target. Green learning environments inspire a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens.

Fully fund environmental education programs in schools.

Essential programs like Nature Near Schools and Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience face devastating budget cuts. We urge the DC Council to fully find these vital initiatives.

To learn more about our recommendations, read the full 2023 Tree Report Card here.