The Parks Department’s Trees Count! campaign topped all previous
tree counting efforts. The campaign mobilized and educated an impressive
1,100 volunteers, who logged in a total of 30,000 hours of service, an
unprecedented turnout for environmental service to New York City. The data collected
gave a more accurate assessment of our City’s street tree population than
was ever possible. Environmental scientists, health professionals, urban
planners, and others have used this data to quantify the impact of NYC’s urban
forest on many areas of City life.
Street Tree Census Results
- Number of street trees in NYC: 592,130
- Increase over previous count: 93,000
- Most common street tree: London planetree (platanus x acerifolia)
- Runner-up: Norway maple (acer platanoides)
- Borough with most street trees: Queens (40% of total
population)
- Runner-up: Brooklyn (24% of total population)
- Leafiest streets: Manhattan (49 street trees per mile
of sidewalk)
- Most common Manhattan species: honeylocust
- Largest increase of street trees per borough: Staten
Island (33% more since last count)
- Most common Staten Island street tree species:
callery pear
- Over 90% of street trees are in good to excellent
condition
- 25% of all street trees are young (less than six
inches in diameter)
- 5% of all street trees are extra-large (over 30 inches across)
And, just like New Yorkers, the trees in our urban forest come from all over the world! Some tree species in NYC include:
- Native species: black cherry, sweetgum, and northern
red oak
- Transplants: Japanese scholar, ginkgo, and callery pear
What the Tree Count Tells Us about NYC’s Urban Forest
The streets of New York City are about 73% planted, with space for
approximately 220,000 additional street trees in neighborhoods across the five
boroughs. Neighborhoods with the greatest need for additional urban tree canopy
will be targeted for new plantings first in the MillionTreesNYC
initiative.
Download 2006 Street Tree Census results:
