PSL becoming a major force in climate protection

Posted: Sept. 15, 2009

The City of Port St. Lucie and Keep Port St. Lucie Beautiful proudly announce the completion of a Florida Division of Forestry grant-funded tree canopy assessment and master plan. The $15,000 grant allowed the city to hire consultant Davey Resource Group to develop and implement an Urban Forest Enhancement Plan. Due to the completion of the plan, the City of Port St. Lucie will continue to be a major force in climate protection for years to come.

The city and KPSLB have worked with the Division of Forestry on several grant projects over the past five years for city-wide tree planting projects in public areas. The projects are in accordance with the city’s master tree planting plan currently being developed for the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement.

The plan consists of two parts; citywide tree canopy assessment and a master tree planting plan. The canopy assessment used aerial photos and Geographic Information Systems data to assess the existing canopy cover. The city’s existing canopy is approximately 24 percent. The Master Tree Plan consisted of analyzing the city’s existing tree inventory and identifying the best possible and most practical planting sites on city property. Over 2,000 sites were identified and added to the tree inventory. This project will serve as a catalyst for our strategic plan for meeting a goal of 30 percent tree canopy by the year 2040. Another strategy that will be used in the plan is to develop tree canopy on private property through homeowner giveaways and other initiatives that raise public awareness about the importance of trees.

The City of Port St. Lucie extends its sincerest gratitude to the Division of Forestry for making this project possible.

For more information, contact:
Carmen Capezutto
Project Manager
City of Port St. Lucie
(772) 871-5148