The city with the most trees in the world is Tampa, according to MIT’s Treepedia project, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on the Future of Cities and the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers community. The city has a tree cover of 36.1% and a population density of 1,283 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Tampa recognizes the benefits of its trees and is committed to conserving and enhancing its environment. The Tampa Program, also known as the Community Tree Program, is free and provides individuals and neighborhood associations with trees to plant on city land, greenways, and street rights-of-way.
The program encourages the replacement of Tampa’s valuable and elegant tree canopy. Trees are a community resource that provide tangible benefits, in terms of visual and aesthetic attributes, environmental assets, health benefits, and economic value.
The Urban Forestry Team is responsible for the care and maintenance of trees in the City’s 178 parks and 1,441 miles of street rights-of-way. This includes proper pruning, planting, and removal of hazardous trees for a safe and sustainable tree canopy.
Trees in our community help clean the air, conserve soil and water, moderate temperatures, and bring nature into our daily lives. Trees are a vital component of infrastructure in our community and provide many environmental and economic benefits.
But, in addition, in 1981, Tampa was nationally designated as Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation . A designation that recognizes the work of elected officials, staff, and citizens who plant and care for the community forest. To hold this title, a city must have a tree ordinance in place, hold an Arbor Day event, and have a comprehensive urban forestry program.
In the Tampa Tree Map initiative they calculate the following benefits of the tree density of their city:
Total annual benefits
$ 2,514,558 saved
Conserved energy: 1,595,327 kwh / year. Savings of $ 537,284.
Filtered stormwater: 135,199,994 gal / year. Savings of $ 1,351,999.
Improved air quality: -4,648 pounds / year. Savings of $ 105,626.
Carbon dioxide removed: 12,991,189 lbs / year. Savings of $ 519,647.
Carbon dioxide stored to date: 67,920,761 pounds. Savings of $ 2,716,830.
