Fort Lauderdale sure could use some more trees \u2014 up to 276,000 more, to be exact.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s proposed urban forestry master plan, which has yet to be adopted by the commission, sets a goal of achieving a 33% tree canopy cover by 2040. To get there, anywhere from 160,000 to 276,000 trees would need to be planted on both public and private property between now and the next 15 years, a city consultant says.<\/p>\n
Tampa\u2019s tree canopy is shrinking. Can anyone save it for the shade?<\/a><\/p>\n Mayor Dean Trantalis questioned whether such a lofty goal is even within reach.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere do we plant 160,000 trees?\u201d he said. \u201cHow are we ever going to achieve that goal? It just seems like a herculean task to get 160,000 trees planted in the next 15 years, especially since most of the area (available to plant them) is not in the public realm.\u201d<\/p>\n Justin Freedman, an arborist and project manager with RES Florida Consulting, had the answer.<\/p>\n Temple Terrace just tallied every tree on city property. Here\u2019s what it found<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an ambitious goal,\u201d he told the mayor during a presentation of the plan. \u201cSome (available land) is in the public right of way. A lot of it is not. It\u2019s going to take effort on both public lands and private lands to get to that number.\u201d<\/p>\n Getting the job done would cost between $27.6 million and $103.4 million, according to the consultant.<\/p>\n Cities are not typically required to have an urban forestry master plan, but many are voluntarily setting tree canopy goals.<\/p>\n Trees aren\u2019t just for shade \u2014 they also boost property values, improve air quality and reduce energy costs, the city\u2019s hired experts say.<\/p>\n \u201cUrban trees are community assets,\u201d the urban forestry plan states. \u201c(They are) critical infrastructure that improve air quality, moderate temperatures, reduce energy costs, enhance positive physical and mental health outcomes, protect water quality, absorb greenhouse gases, reinforce riverbanks and coastlines, and raise property values and retail sales.\u201d<\/p>\n