What: Grow Boston Greener (GBG) is a collaborative effort of the City of Boston and its partners in Boston’s Urban Forest Coalition (BUFC) to increase the urban tree canopy cover in the city by planting 100,000 trees by 2020. The planting of these trees will increase Boston’s tree canopy cover from 29% to 35%, by 2030 as the planted trees mature.
Where: Trees will be planted throughout the City with primary focus on environmental justice communities with low canopy cover.
Why: The goals of GBG are to:
- Increase the tree canopy cover in EJ or low canopy areas
- Mitigate the urban heat island effect and reduce energy consumption through the appropriate placement of trees on residential and commercial properties
- Improve air quality
- Improve storm water management through strategic neighborhood plantings
How: Beyond "the simple act of planting a tree" our planting programs focus not only on planting trees, but on the community-based stewardship activities necessary to ensure the trees' survival. To realize the above goals we must not only plant trees, but plant trees that will survive, thrive and that will ensure the unique benefits that a mature, healthy urban forest canopy provides.
Our Members: Allston-Brighton Community Development Corporation; Arnold Arboretum; Arborway Coalition; Boston Department of Neighborhood Development; Boston Parks Department; Charles River Conservancy; Charles River Watershed Association; Classic Communications; Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition; Eagle Eye Institute; EarthWorks; Franklin Park Coalition; JP Trees; Mapping Sustainability; Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation; Urban Ecology Institute; USDA Forest Service |
