WTSP: Tampa launches effort to plant 30,000 trees by 2030

BriShon Mitchell, Eric Glasser, WTSP

With Arbor Day approaching there’s some good news and bad news when it comes to the number of trees in our area.

A new report says Tampa‘s tree canopy is slowly vanishing. So, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor announced Wednesday an initiative to add tens of thousands of trees around the city over the next few years. A goal of 30,000 trees by the year 2030.

The mayor says the initiatives are a "nature-based solution" to climate change, adding that the trees can contribute to stability and resistance by providing cool shaded areas to take a "break from the Florida sun" and as we experience more "extreme heat events." 

The trees are also expected to contribute to biodiversity and provide habitats to Florida wildlife, including pollinators and endangered species. Castor says having more trees will reduce runoff into area waterways and improve air quality.

Castor says the city is committed, “To not only protecting the tree canopy that we have right now, by growing that canopy for future generations.”

Tampa, long praised for its shade trees, is seeing rapid growth. Trees are disappearing and a new report, which the city publishes every five years, finds the city’s treasured tree canopy is slowly dwindling.

“We have declined somewhat from where we were at before,” Castor said. “A little less than one percentage point than we were five years ago.”

Still, in a city of 10.4-million trees that’s close to a hundred thousand – gone.

The city is focusing its foliage forces on areas where the leafy losses have been the greatest. South Tampa and the city’s urban core.

“South Tampa lost 6%. And Tampa, the central Tampa area lost 3.3%. Their tree canopies,” said Castor.

Ian Johnson has lived in South Tampa for the past few years and says it’s been noticeable.

“I mean, a lot of people are tearing stuff down, and a lot of trees have been kind of taken away,” said Johnson. “Yeah, I’ve noticed it over a couple of years.”

“It’s a big change,” said Ivonne Bezerra, who seen houses and trees torn down in her neighborhood. “And not for the best.”

The city is increasing its free tree giveaway program from two to five and aggressively challenging – even punishing and fining – those who remove protected trees without permission.

Tampa ranks among the cleanest when it comes to particulates in the air but earns a failing grade from the American Lung Association when it comes to ozone levels being pushed higher by congestion.

“The most trees we can have around, I think it’s better for everyone,” said Bezerra.

Tampa is one of several cities participating in a historic effort to plant new trees.

The Biden administration recently made $1.5 Billion dollars available for urban tree planting over the next 10 years as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Mayor Castor says they plan to apply for a share of that money.

Tampa residents will soon be able to receive five free trees from the city through the Tree-mendous Tampa Free Tree Program. In the past, it was capped at two trees, the mayor said. 

A tree giveaway event with the mayor is also planned for Saturday, May 6, click here for more information.

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