New York City plans to expand its tree canopy over the next 14 years, aiming to cover 30% of the city to enhance shade and cooling amid rising global temperatures.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani introduced the “NYC Urban Forest Plan” on April 21 and has now set a target to achieve this goal by 2040, according to The City.
The initiative focuses on adding trees in neighborhoods that experience severe heat, targeting particularly vulnerable populations as heatwaves become more intense and frequent. This approach represents a shift from past years, when tree-planting was often done in response to service requests.
“To reach this 30% goal, it’s going to take work from every actor in the entire city,” said Jessica Einhorn, the chief of forestry programs. “This program planting trees, especially in the high [heat vulnerable] neighborhoods, is really critical towards that equity angle.”…