The Cleveland Tree Canopy Goal
On Arbor Day 2017, the Cleveland Tree Coalition announced the Cleveland Tree Canopy Goal, a proposal to grow Cleveland’s urban tree canopy cover from 19% to 30% by 2040. To kickstart tree planting and conservation efforts for this goal, we proposed an initial collective effort to reverse an estimated trend of tree loss by planting 50,000 trees by 2020.
Our document, Reforesting The Forest City: The Cleveland Tree Canopy Goal, provides more detail about the rationale behind the Cleveland Tree Canopy Goal, explaining how it aligns with the Cleveland Tree Plan’s (2015) suggested actions. It also details how, at 30% tree canopy cover, trees would provide a wealth of benefits to people who live, work, and play in Cleveland—benefits valued at $44 million per year.
Reforesting The Forest City: The Cleveland Tree Canopy Goal (2018; PDF)
Cleveland Urban Forest That’s Managed by Largest Landowners
This report was released in September 2020 to accompany the Cleveland Tree Plan 2020 Tree Canopy Progress Report. It describes how the twenty-five largest landowners–composed of local government, businesses, parks, and institutions–collectively manage 38% of Cleveland’s urban forest. Private residential homeowners, who manage another 43% of Cleveland’s urban forest, could be said to be a 26th largest landowner type. Together, the 25 largest landowners and private residential homeowners have 22% existing tree canopy cover, slightly above city average. Like city average, in the past six years their canopy cover has declined. The largest landowners and private residential homeowners could be instrumental in helping Cleveland achieve its canopy goal of 30% tree cover.
Full report: Characterization of Cleveland Tree Canopy Managed by Largest Landowners (2020; PDF)
Citation: Albro, S.L. 2020. Characterization of Cleveland Tree Canopy Managed by Largest Landowners [report]. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Tree Coalition.