New County Tree Canopy Study at odds with local experience
Speak out at the “Virtual Information Session: 2023 Tree Canopy Study” to challenge the the findings that the tree canopy coverage has been improving in all sectors since 2014.
They don’t want you to believe your eyes. You’ are NOT seeing the deforestation of Arlington County! Damage from drought and then flooding? Damage from rising temperatures? Damage from armillaria root rot, two-line chestnut borer, and ambrosia beetles? According to Arlington County’s Department of Parks and Recreation, (DPR), none of that has ever happened. Arlington’s tree canopy is doing just fine, thank you very much.
On November 13, the Arlington County Board held a work session wherein DPR presented the results from new study conducted by Davey Resource Group under contract to DPR. (You can view the work session here.) The study used arial photographs taken in 2013, 2018, and 2023 to measure the tree canopy and compared the results over time. (Note: Dave Resource Group is a division of the Davey Tree Expert Company, which produced the County’s seriously flawed 2016 tree canopy study and another division of which has the contract for planting and maintaining trees on public land in Arlington.)
And guess what they found. Arlington’s tree coverage in 2023 was 35.2%, up from 31.7% in 2014 and 33.3% in 2018! How convenient that the study findings completely support maintaining the status quo while completely justifying the County’s continued support of destructive and environmentally unsustainable land use practices that reduce tree canopy and the pervious ground on which trees depend. You will find the study report here.
The County is staging a dog and pony show to promote their success in “expanding” Arlington’s tree canopy. They’ve developed a video, (your can see it here), and they are providing a virtual “in-depth overview of Arlington's tree canopy” on Thursday, December 12 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. During the presentation they say they will examined “how Arlington’s tree canopy
has evolved over the years with data and analysis from 2014, 2018, and our most recent 2023 findings” and will discuss “improvements in methodology, accuracy, and data quality, providing insights that help us better understand our progress toward Arlington’s tree canopy goals.”
Register to participate in this virtual presentation here. The County will answer questions, however you have to submit your question at the time you register.
ATAG recommends that you get an overview of the study by looking at the video the County has prepared (here). You should also look at the article about the study in ArlNow (here). If you have time, you should look at the study itself (here) before submitting questions to the County.
It’s time to hold the County to account for environmental damage it has allowed in our backyards. Please attend this event and let the County know that you are watching.