Reforestation
Nearly 40 percent of New York City´s parkland—approximately 11,000 acres—comprises natural rocky shorelines and beaches, wetlands, meadows, and forests. These areas bring tremendous benefits to the city, including improvements to air and water quality, provision of habitat for wild plants and animals, retention of greenhouse gases, and reduction of energy costs. To further realize the benefits provided by our natural environment, the City will expand efforts to reforest approximately 2,000 acres of parkland by 2030, without compromising space for existing recreational facilities.
Reforestation will take place in Fresh Kills Park in Staten Island, Cunningham Park in Queens, Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, Highbridge Park in Manhattan, and other parks across the city at a cost of $118 million. These new forests will increase New York City´s tree canopy coverage and help achieve our air and water quality goals for 2030.
Related Links
Ecological Assessment of Cunningham Park
Ecological Assessment of Highbridge Park
Ecological Assessment of Van Cortlandt Park
Stapleton Community Forestry Management Plan
Crotona Park Urban Forest Management Plan
Fort Greene Park Urban Forest Management Plan
East Harlem Urban Forest Management Plan
Morrisania Community Forestry Management Plan
East New York Community Forestry Management Plan