Setting Targets and Continuing to Grow

 

Known as “The City of Trees,” Charlotte has a wonderful foundation for achieving manageable canopy goals. However, a detailed analysis shows we must take a more aggressive approach to ensure the continued health and well-being of our tree canopy, and we must actively plant thousands of trees to account for growth and development in our city and around the region.

TreesCharlotte Mission

TreesCharlotte is a public/private nonprofit collaboration to grow, diversify and steward the city’s iconic urban forest. Trained volunteers and science-based programs teach residents about the value of trees and how to plant and care for them.

TreesCharlotte Vision

TreesCharlotte’s vision is 50 percent canopy coverage, city-wide acceptance of responsibility to plant and care for trees and sustained funding to continue the mission generation to generation.

TreesCharlotte Methodology

• Promoting benefits of trees: increasing healthy air, saving electricity, mitigating storm water runoff and creating visual beauty and shade
• Building and preserving tree canopy throughout the community with special attention to underserved areas
• Engaging diverse neighborhoods to join the effort
• Developing “ownership”
• Providing group bonding experiences
• Educational opportunities for children and adults about trees
• Collaborating with other organizations to build tree awareness
• Strong, mutually beneficial partnership with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
• Providing research focused on trees
• Financial accountability