On April 21, 2026, NYC Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung, NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, TreesNY Executive Director Nelson Villarrubia, and other dignitaries celebrated the announcement of the innovative NYC Urban Forest Plan at Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn. The plan calls for a collaborative effort among public, private, and nonprofit organizations to reach 30% tree canopy coverage in New York City. Following the announcement, volunteers helped water trees recently planted by TreesNY!
8,000 residents helped shape a plan that aims to close the canopy gap between underserved New Yorkers and wealthier communities — a shared commitment to a healthier, more resilient city. The urban forest includes the more than seven million trees that span New York City’s streets, yards, parks, campuses, businesses, and natural areas. It’s an important part of the city, meant to be accessible to all.
Trees in New York City provide $260 million in benefits and services, including removing 1,100 tons of air pollution, providing energy savings equivalent to the annual use of 8,000 homes, and reducing stormwater runoff by 69 million cubic feet.
As of the latest data from 2021, tree canopy covers 23.4% of New York City. From 2017-2021, New York City saw a 1.2% total increase in tree canopy cover. But this total increase included both gains and losses that were higher in some parts of the city and lower in others. The canopy grew by 2.3% in parkland managed by NYC Parks and by 2.1% along city streets.
According to Andrew Newman, NYC Parks, and NYSUFC Board Member, “The New York City Urban Forest Plan is a new milestone in collaborative tree planting and stewardship efforts. Instead of counting stems, the plan focuses on achieving 30% canopy coverage with a focus on equitable planting. This planting is driven by prioritizing communities with higher heat indexes, which, while a component of previous tree planting initiatives in NYC, was not the primary factor in tree placement. The plan also goes beyond advocacy by any single Mayoral administration; it is legally codified by Local Law 148 and will be updated every ten years, making the City’s commitment to urban forestry a long term goal not beholden to the varying priorities of future elected officials.”