Outgoing Dallas City Council Adopts Urban Forest Master Plan

DALLAS — Mayor Eric Johnson, in conjunction with the Office of Environmental Quality & Sustainability and the Texas Trees Foundation, have agreed to the adoption of the first Dallas Urban Forest Master Plan.

Wednesday, the city council voted unanimously to approve the plan.

“Dallas must strive to be a top city for families and a global leader in managing and mitigating the effects of climate change,” Johnson said. The mayor created the first-ever standalone Dallas City Council committee devoted to environment and sustainability issues.

“This plan, which recognizes the importance of trees and green space to our vibrant city, can help us achieve both and will ensure that all of our communities can thrive in healthy, sustainable environments for years to come," he said of the announcement.

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As a natural resource, Dallas trees are valued at more than $9 billion in benefits to the ecosystem and replacement cost, according to the “State of the Dallas Urban Forest” report published by the Texas Trees Foundation in 2015.

After revisions to the City's Article X Tree ordinance in 2018, city representatives went searching for a plan to address the strategic management of the city's tree canopy and urban forest. The Texas Trees Foundation and the City began working to create the first plan of this type with funding provided by the Lyda Hill Philanthropies and Oncor.

The council then called for an urban forest masterplan as part of the Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan (CECAP), which passed unanimously last year.

“The Urban Forest Master Plan is critical to meeting the goals of the CECAP so we can effectively work towards implementing more green spaces," said City Councilmember Omar Narvaéz, who chairs the Environment and Sustainability Committee. "We know how important it is to have trees for shade, for cooling, for improved air quality, flood control and public health — this plan sets a good path forward."

Now the city of Dallas, at the direction of the mayor, has also joined the World Economic Forum’s 1 Trillion Trees initiative. This plan will contribute to the worldwide effort.

The plan involves a collaboration between the Texas Trees Foundation, Lyda Hill Philanthropies, Oncor, and multiple City departments such as Park and Recreation, Aviation, Dallas Water Utilities, Sustainable Development and Construction, Planning and Urban Design and the Office of Environmental Quality & Sustainability.

“I am truly excited about the adoption of this plan because it brings trees to the forefront as an environmental priority at City Hall and throughout Dallas,” said President and CEO of Texas Trees Foundation Janette Monear. “A healthy and well-managed tree canopy will make Dallas greener, cleaner, cooler and healthier.”

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