The City of Miami’s urban forestry program has made significant strides in enhancing the city’s green spaces, planting over 9,000 trees in the last seven years. This initiative, spearheaded by the Public Works Department, is committed to expanding Miami’s tree canopy, with plans to continue planting efforts in the coming years.
Juvenal Santana, Director of Public Works for the City of Miami, notes that the department planted over 500 trees this year and anticipates exceeding last year’s total of 1,300. The program strategically utilizes urban heat maps and tree canopy assessments to identify areas most in need of increased tree cover. Neighborhoods with sparse tree canopies often experience higher temperatures, posing potential health risks to residents.
The Public Works Department has already selected the neighborhoods for this year’s initial tree planting projects, including Liberty City, Lemon City, and Flagami. Planting is set to commence at the end of the dry season this spring.
