Forest Hills Greenery: Check Out The 8,000 Trees In The Neighborhood

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — Forest Hills is living up to its name, according to a new map by the Parks Department.

A new interactive map launched last month shows all of Forest Hills' 7,988 trees, as well as their type of species, the most recent tree care activity, and ecological benefits.

Forest Hills is composed of over 212 tree species, according to the map, and have added over $1,280,688.22 of annual benefits.

Forest Hills is the third most tree-filled in Queens, next to Bayside and Whitestone, which have 11,194 and 8,125, respectively.

The primarily white, wealthy neighborhoods are well over other neighborhoods with less greenery, such as Elmhurst and Corona with over 2,000 trees, which is why the city has attempted to focus on equity in its more recent tree-planting efforts.

A 2021 report showed neighborhoods with higher heat vulnerabilityand poverty rates saw strong tree growth in the eight years through 2017.

The canopy in Forest Hills helps the neighborhood conserve 7,987,508 kWh of energy each year.

The trees in the neighborhood also reduce 15,097 pounds of air pollutants and 17,408,232 tons of carbon dioxide each year.