Fort Lauderdale tree plan would cost up to $103 million

Want to help Fort Lauderdale? Plant a tree.

Fort Lauderdale needs to plant up to 276,000 more trees by 2040 if it wants a 33% tree canopy, meaning one-third of the city would be shaded by tree cover.

That ambitious goal is part of a new urban forestry master plan expected to come before the Fort Lauderdale commission Tuesday night.

To reach that number, trees would need to be planted on both public and private property over the next 15 years. Getting the job done would cost between $27.6 million and $103.4 million, says RES Florida Consulting, the firm hired by Fort Lauderdale to prepare the proposed urban forestry plan.

“It is very ambitious,” Commissioner Steve Glassman said of the plan. “But I’d rather be positive and ambitious than not. If we hit the goal, great. I don’t think we can, but why not try? What’s important is that we actually take some action.”

Many trees have been lost as a result of Fort Lauderdale’s recent development boom, the consultant noted.

Sea-level rise and intense storms also pose challenges to expanding the city’s tree canopy.

Fort Lauderdale is doing what it can to save the trees that have already been planted, said Commissioner Ben Sorensen.

“We’ve dramatically increased our fines for the unpermitted removal of trees,” he said. “We’re also engaging in a tree survey to evaluate all the native trees in the city and how to best protect them. The master plan is an aggressive plan to increase the canopy. But I think we can get it done.”

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, known for its extensive tree canopy, boasts more trees than any other spot in Fort Lauderdale, according to a color-coded map provided by the consultant.

Cities are not typically required to have an urban forestry master plan, but many are voluntarily setting tree canopy goals.

Trees not only create shade, they can also increase property values, improve air quality and reduce energy costs, experts say.

Fort Lauderdale’s tree canopy is currently at 26.6%.

The city currently has 5.6 square miles of potential tree planting area within its borders.

Fort Lauderdale currently has 8.75 square miles of tree canopy. The goal is to grow another 2.1 square miles by 2040.

“Trees matter for a bunch of reasons,” Sorensen said. “They’re very important for oxygen, shade and stormwater drainage. And also, it’s just much more aesthetically pleasing to have the trees.”

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan