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
The efforts of TreesCharlotte and its incredible partners and volunteers paid considerable dividends since 2012. Some of the achievements include:
Planted or gave away more than 48,900 containerized trees
Engaged more than 24,500 volunteers
Stewarded thousands of trees already planted at previous events
Educated thousands of students and residents about tree care and tree benefits
Established and expanded partnerships with numerous corporate sponsors
Held 7 successful Tree Canopy Action Summits