The City and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation released its first-ever Philadelphia Tree Plan on February 23, 2023.
Over 9000 residents provided input in the plan across surveys, ambassadors, conversations and virtual open houses.
Despite a need for trees to fight climate change, Philadelphia’s urban forest shrunk by 6%, or approximately the size of 1000 football fields, between 2008 and 2018. Tree loss was due to development, lack of maintenance, removal of yard trees, invasive pests and diseases, and climate change.
Trees have multiple benefits. They remove air pollution, protection from heat, a source of nutrition, habitats for pollinators and migratory birds, protect the watershed, improving mental and physical health, combat climate change and more.
So what’s in the plan? The 128-page Tree Plan has 8 main goals:
Want to read more? Read the entire plan:
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