Urban Forestry

COG’s Urban Forestry Program seeks to enhance and preserve forestry resources in the region through projects and workshops in cooperation with federal, state, and local forestry program partners. The program has two ad-hoc committees that examine regional forestry issues: 1) the Community Forestry Network (CFN) Committee, which primarily serves the local professional population on timely issues in forestry, urban forestry, green infrastructure, and planning; and 2) the Regional Tree Canopy Subcommittee (RTCS) under the Climate, Energy, and Environment Policy Committee. RTCS helped to create a regional tree canopy goal of 50% canopy through 2050 and monitors canopy using Chesapeake Bay Program Land Cover Land Use LIDAR satellite imagery. RTCS provides guidance to protect and enhance our current forest and urban tree canopy in the region.

The urban forestry program includes ongoing reforestation projects in the Anacostia watershed under the Anacostia Restoration Program.