Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has announced Miami-Dade County’s plan to increase its urban tree canopy to 30 percent. The Urban Forestry Plan, developed with input from the mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, aims to educate and engage the community, businesses, and stakeholders about the current state of urban forests and the challenges they face.
According to the Miami-Dade County release, Mayor Levine Cava said in a statement, "Our urban tree canopy is more than just greenery—it’s a vital investment in our community’s health, resilience, and quality of life." The plan involves collaboration between different county departments to create a healthy, well-distributed urban forest system and to make Miami-Dade a greener, more sustainable county.
The county has increased the number of trees it plants annually, with efforts focused on partnering with the Miami-Dade County School Board and faith-based organizations to prioritize tree planting in low-canopy areas. These initiatives are part of the broader strategy to reduce urban heat, manage stormwater, improve air quality, and reduce carbon emissions.
"This plan was a collective effort between community and local government to articulate the challenges facing urban forests and recommend a suite of strategies and collective actions that could get us to our goals,” said Jane Gilbert, Miami-Dade County Chief Heat Officer and Director of Urban and Community Forestry in the same release. The county is now working to speed up the implementation of the action plan to see its impact on communities.
Residents are encouraged to get involved in upcoming tree planting and giveaway events. More information can be found on the Miami-Dade government's tree information page.
