NYC Tree Map
Policy Title: City Tree Map
Year Adopted: 2022
City: New York City, NY
Resource Link: NYC Tree Map
Description:
New York City's Urban Forest is a vital component of the city's ecosystem, offering numerous environmental and social benefits. The NYC Parks Department manages this extensive network of trees, which includes both street trees and those within landscaped park areas.
In December 2022, NYC Parks launched the NYC Tree Map, an interactive tool that provides detailed information on nearly one million trees across the five boroughs. This comprehensive map integrates live forestry data, allowing users to explore tree species, health status, and ecological contributions. Notably, the map includes approximately 150,000 newly mapped park trees and 650,000 previously mapped street trees, offering a holistic view of the city's urban forest.
The NYC Tree Map empowers residents to engage with the urban forest by enabling them to:
- Report tree conditions: Users can notify Parks staff of any issues affecting trees, allowing timely maintenance and care.
- Record stewardship activities: Individuals and community groups can log their tree care efforts, such as watering or mulching, promoting collaborative urban forest management.
- Access inspection and maintenance records: The map provides transparency by displaying recent inspections and completed work orders for each tree.
Impact:
New York City’s NYC Tree Map showcases how mapping and data collection can effectively protect mature urban trees. By identifying at-risk mature trees, the map enables targeted maintenance and preservation efforts, preventing unnecessary removals. It also supports regulatory enforcement by ensuring compliance with tree protection policies. Additionally, the map engages the public, allowing residents to report issues and log care activities. This case study highlights the power of technology-driven tree inventories as well as citizen engagement to safeguard mature trees and enhance urban forestry management.
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