Urban Forestry Plans Obstructed by Urban Development Plans in D.C.

John D. Harden details the ongoing effort to replant the District of Columbia with trees—an effort frustrated recently by the District's recent rate of development and economic growth.

"As part of a concentrated, six-month effort that began in October, crews planted more than 8,500 trees in an attempt to shroud 40 percent of the city under tree canopy by 2032," writes Harden. "But midway through a years-long tree campaign, the same economic successes that ushered in new residents and transformed neighborhoods across Washington are threatening to stymie the city’s woodland progress."

The District has added about 100,000 trees in the past decade, according to the article, but is running out of space to plant more, even as the District prepares a comprehensive plan update that calls for both new development and new trees.

"Andrew Trueblood, director of the D.C. Office of Planning, acknowledged the contradiction, saying the document serves as a framework for city leaders," reports Harden. "The challenge will be determining how to prioritize its recommendations."

The article includes more context, with testimonies from experts and city officials on the challenges, and the benefits, of the effort to replant trees in the District.