At 47.9 %, Atlanta has the highest percentage of overall urban tree canopy in the nation when compared to other cities that have conducted Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) Assessments. While many variables affect the presence of tree canopy, ranging from geography and climate, to development patterns, tree protection and planting policies; Atlanta remains a “City in the Forest.”
Trees attract birds and wildlife, making our communities more walkable. They also provide shade, remove carbon dioxide from the air, and improve flood control, increasing climate resiliency. Every day, this important resource, our urban forest, is increasingly under threat. Protecting Atlanta’s urban tree canopy is facing a real-world challenge in East Atlanta. With a dense tree canopy and numerous centuries-old trees on-site, the ecosystem services provided by such a forest are immense and far-reaching. As a community greenspace, Ormewood Forest would continue to be an asset to the East Atlanta community, the South River Watershed, and all of the vegetation and wildlife who depend on that land for habitat. An inspiring group of neighbors and citizen activists have launched a grassroots initiative, Save Ormewood Forest, a 6-acre tract with old-growth trees.
We are excited to join the effort to preserve this natural space in East Atlanta. Planting trees is one of the easiest and most sustainable ways to positively affect the environment. As residents, voters, and environmental stewards, we want Atlanta’s elected officials and community leaders to know that we all care about the trees in our city.
