December 12, 2024 | From City of New Orleans
City of New Orleans Earns 2024 Tree City USA Recognition, Receives Growth Award
NEW ORLEANS – The City of New Orleans proudly announces its recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation as a 2024 Tree City USA, honoring the city's commitment to planting, growing, and maintaining trees to benefit the community. New Orleans also received the Growth Award for exceeding the four Tree City USA standards, which include maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and hosting an Arbor Day celebration.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. Its network of more than a million supporters and partners has helped the organization plant more than 500 million trees in forests and communities across more than 60 countries since 1972. The Tree City USA program has recognized cities and towns that leverage urban forestry to enhance the livability and sustainability of their local area for over 50 years.
“We all have a role to play in shaping our future. Tree champions like New Orleans are leading the way,” said Michelle Saulnier, Vice President of Programs at the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees are critical infrastructure, building resiliency and fostering good health in our nation’s cities. We’re proud New Orleans is among the Arbor Day Foundation’s growing network of communities dedicated to creating positive impact through trees.”
In cities and neighborhoods, trees are proven to help mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and boost mental and physical health. When the right trees are planted in the right places, they can also reduce traffic noise, increase property values, and lower energy costs for homeowners.
"The Department of Parks & Parkways is committed to planting native and adaptive species to reach the City’s community-wide goal of planting 40,000 trees by year 2030, as outlined in the Climate Action Plan," said Michael Karam, Director of the Department of Parks & Parkways. "This will be accomplished by designing and overseeing department planting projects, granting funding to non-profit tree planting partners, and implementing the $8 million Urban and Community Forestry grant from the USDA Forest Service. We will also protect and maintain the established tree canopy by updating the Tree Protection Ordinance.”
The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program is operated in partnership with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. To learn more about the program or how to apply, visit arborday.org.