Darlington Tree Canopy Plan

This plan is the culmination of a nine-month planning process that included workshops and strategic planning sessions led by the Green Infrastructure Center Inc. (GIC) with city staff and community partners. The public was engaged in this process through outreach events, a community open house and community interviews. The extent of urban forest cover was determined by analyzing aerial imagery to map the City’s land cover. Open space was evaluated to determine the Potential Planting Area where future trees might be planted, along with assessments of the environmental and social benefits that the City’s trees provide. Strategies for retaining, protecting, and restoring tree canopy coverage were created.

The City of Darlington currently has 43% tree canopy coverage city-wide. The City will maintain Darlington’s tree canopy at 43% with a focus on growing the canopy in the southwestern region of the city. Tree planting will be needed to maintain the 43% canopy because trees will die from pests, storms, landowner removals, additional development, or old age. The City will manage losses to maintain 43% tree canopy coverage by using these strategies: