New report from The Nature Conservancy Finds NYC is Progressing Toward the Goal of 30% Tree Canopy Cover Citywide, But Gains Vary by Neighborhood

The Nature Conservancy today released Growing Greener: The State of Tree Canopy in New York City, 2017-2021, the most comprehensive look, to date, at how New York City’s tree canopy is changing across public and private property—and how to accelerate progress towards meeting the goal of achieving 30% canopy cover by 2040, as set in NYC’s new Urban Forest Plan.

The report found that in 2021, tree canopy cover reached 23.4% citywide, an increase of 1.2% from 2017. This reflects stronger annual gains compared to previous canopy change data from 2010 to 2017. The analysis also makes clear that historic patterns of uneven canopy cover across NYC persist; areas with historically low canopy cover generally remained less canopied than other areas of the city but notably saw some of the greatest relative gains in canopy from 2017 to 2021.

The report also found that one- and two-family residential properties, which made up the biggest share of privately owned land and a substantial portion of NYC land area (21.83% of total land area in 2021), was the only land use type with net canopy loss at the citywide scale during 2017–2021. These trends suggest that maintaining canopy on private property, let alone expanding it, may be a challenge and requires more attention.

“Growing Greener demonstrates that long-standing inequities in canopy cover persist, leaving many communities without the cooling, public health and other environmental benefits that trees can provide,” said Director of TNC's New York City Program and an author of the report, Tami Lin-Moges. “But it is also promising to see that the targeted plantings and maintenance conducted by the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and other local organizations in high heat-vulnerable neighborhoods throughout New York City are beginning to pay off, with data showing they had some of the greatest relative gains in canopy. As we prepare for another hot summer, it is clear: Investing in nature is essential to protecting the health and well-being of all New Yorkers.”

Report key findings include:

• 45,247 acres, or 23.40% of the city, was covered by tree canopy in 2021, up from 22.20% canopy cover in 2017 and 20.37% in 2010.
• Areas with high heat‑vulnerability scores from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, communities designated as Disadvantaged Communities under the NYS Climate and Community Protection Act, and neighborhoods with lower household incomes generally remained less canopied but saw some of the greatest relative gains in canopy from 2017 to 2021.
• Overall, canopy increased in all five boroughs on City, State, Federal and private property, with the strongest gains seen in NYC Department of Parks & Recreation’s jurisdiction (which includes trees on City Parkland and streets).
• Private property had the smallest gains in tree canopy, with losses across some types such as one- and two-family residential, predominately in southeastern Queens.
• Nearly 90% of the observed canopy growth came from the growth of existing trees, underscoring the importance of regular care and maintenance that trees require.
• If canopy cover has and continues to increase at the rate of 0.30% per year, NYC will achieve its goal of 30% canopy cover by 2042. The report outlines strategies to further to accelerate canopy growth to reach the 30% goal sooner.

“No matter where you live, work, or spend time outside, all New Yorkers know the immediate relief that comes from standing under the shade of a tree on a hot day. What may be less obvious is that trees are one of the most affordable and accessible ways to help adapt to a changing climate,” said New York City Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung. “As the Growing Greener report shows, for too long New Yorkers of color in environmental justice communities have been left behind, lacking critical access to trees and all the benefits they provide. I am proud to partner with The Nature Conservancy to bring our first-ever Urban Forest Plan to life, using the best available data to achieve 30% tree canopy equitably by 2040.”

“Growing Greener confirms that strategic investment in our urban forest pays off, especially in the communities that need it most," said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. "This progress is the direct result of years of strategic planting and maintenance, and it's a credit to every forester, steward, and community partner who has put in the work. Through initiatives like the Neighborhood Tree Planting Program, we are prioritizing planting where it is needed most, and this report is a reminder that growing our canopy is not just about planting new trees, but caring for and preserving the ones we already have. Our Urban Forest Plan lays out the roadmap for getting all five boroughs to 30 percent canopy cover by 2040, and closing the gaps that still exist between neighborhoods is at the center of that plan. NYC Parks remains committed to growing a greener, healthier, and more equitable city for every New Yorker.”

In addition to cooling and shading benefits, trees and their canopy—the layer of leaves and branches visible from above—provide New Yorkers with a wide range of benefits, from reducing air pollution and flooding, to supporting outdoor recreation. These benefits underscore why TNC is committed to building healthier and greener cities that are more resilient to the effects of climate change and enhance the quality of life for residents. Since 2017, TNC has measured and analyzed New York City’s canopy, providing policymakers, city agencies, nonprofit partners and communities with the data needed to understand how this critical natural infrastructure is evolving and to evaluate the impacts of tree planting, management and protection efforts. The Growing Greener report is a companion to The State of the Urban Forest in New York City (released in 2021), which provided the city’s first-of-its-kind holistic understanding of the NYC urban forest.