Urban Tree Canopy: Some Successes, More Work to Be Done
Kate Lunceford | Published on 9/8/2025
LWVSC and Futurewise worked on the urban tree canopy policy for five years until it was adopted last December into the County Comprehensive Plan. You helped make that happen!! Thank you!
The County Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources will likely be responsible for developing a forest management plan for unincorporated urban growth areas. The county now says this area has 38% tree canopy coverage – that’s not in the cities, nor rural or resource lands. They will create ordinances and regulations to protect 38% coverage through “no net loss” of canopy.
What does that mean? No net loss in 20 years by planting all new trees? Will they define heritage trees of a certain size, age and ecological benefit and protect them on public and private property? Will they propose building designs that can be flexible to accommodate housing needs and heritage trees? Will they make sure a fee-in-lieu does not allow builders to pay into tree banks which have poor success rates due high mortality? Lots of other questions…
Kristin Kelly is working with the county right now to help implement the policy. You can support her and Futurewise in helping guide our county. Contact Kristin by
email.