We have trees from the famous Monument Core — the National Mall and its monuments and memorials — the heart of our nation’s capital is home to 17,000 trees. The District also houses the nation’s first urban park, Rock Creek Park, as part of its more than 7,000 acres of parkland and has two major rivers within its city limits.
Through a combination of city and federal staff, nonprofits and citizens, the District of Columbia has developed a healthy 35 percent tree canopy and a wide range of greening initiatives, including environmental justice work and green jobs training.
D.C. Urban Forest Facts*
Washington, D.C., Urban Forest Fact Sheet
- The city has 1,928,000 trees.
- Most common tree species are American beech, red maple and box elder.
- Approximately 56 percent of trees are less than six inches in diameter.
- The city’s trees:
o Remove 540 tons of pollution per year, valued at $2.5million.
o Store 526,000 tons of carbon,valued at $9.7 million.
o Sequester 16,200 tons of carbon per year, valued at $9.7million.
o Reduce building energy usage by $2.6 million per year,which results in value of $96,000 in avoided carbon emissions.
o Have a structural value of $3.6billion.
• D.C.’s urban tree canopy is 35 percent.+
Washington, D.C., Urban Forest Fact Sheet
- The city’s trees:
o Remove 540 tons of pollution per year,valued at $2.5million.
o Store 526,000 tons of carbon, valued at $9.7 million.
o Sequester 16,200 tons of carbon per year,valued at $9.7million.
o Reduce building energy usage by $2.6 million per year,which results in
value of $96,000 in avoided carbon emissions.
o Have a structural value of $3.6 billion.
• D.C.’s urban tree canopy is 35 percent.+
The Power of Us 