West Palm Beach Tree Canopy

This report describes the City of West Palm Beach’s current tree canopy coverage and the benefits those trees provide for air quality, stormwater uptake and shade. The GIC provided tree canopy cover data to the City to determine current tree cover and to track future progress. Strategies to maintain and increase canopy were developed. The City of West Palm Beach has a current tree canopy cover including Grassy Waters Preserve of 34%. However, in the urban areas of the City where everyone lives and works, the average canopy cover is 24%. This report sets a goal to reverse the downward trend in canopy cover and increase current canopy by 1% to achieve 25% canopy cover by 2035.