Columbus (OH) Urban Forestry Master Plan (2021)PROJECT OBJECTIVE
As stated by Mayor Ginther, “Columbus residents deserve cleaner and more prosperous neighborhoods with plenty of greenspace, air that is easier to breathe and safe drinking water.” For this reason, the City of Columbus started a community planning process to proactively manage, preserve, and grow its urban forest through an Urban Forestry Master Plan (UFMP) in 2019. This was a critical step for the city, especially given its anticipated challenges facing Columbus:
STATS DURING PLAN DEVELOPMENT (2019-21)
PROCESS UCW was hired for their urban planning and municipal forestry operations expertise to engage with the citizens of Columbus and co-develop a plan. A 100+ member Advisory Group was formed, and multiple working meetings were held to assess the condition of the existing urban forest and determine priorities for the community. Citizen input was also collected through the project website and a well-attended (over 150 people) public open house. An internal operations review was conducted, along with a comprehensive review of the existing policies, plans, data and codes. UCW’s approach to this project from the beginning was to be thorough, inclusive, and flexible. OUTCOME With the plan completed in the spring of 2021, Columbus had its first roadmap for managing the urban forest. This is a plan for the entire community - both public and private landowners. Three primary goals were set, and the final plan was divided into 15 Actions that best supported those forestry goals, also determined via discussion during the strategic plan process: Goal 1: Reach Citywide Tree Canopy Cover of 40% by 2050 The community expressed a clear desire to aim for an ultimate canopy cover of 40% or higher in order to achieve the highest quality of life for residents in the long term. Goal 2: Stop the Net Canopy Losses by 2030 Real gain in canopy cover will not occur until the reasons for losses are addressed. Goal 3: Invest in Equitable Canopy Across All Neighborhoods by 2030 Over the next 10 years, Columbus will invest in tree canopy equitably, focusing on neighborhoods with low tree canopy and high social equity needs. Working toward these goals will require a significant effort by all stakeholders, both private and public. 15 Actions were defined to work toward these goals, each with multiple action items described in the full plan.
Other outcomes to note: Because the lack of accurate tree data became apparent during the planning process, funds for an inventory was acquired before the plan was even completed, and a partnership with the county to update the canopy cover assessment was also initiated. UCW has been involved in implementation as well. Progress is being tracked here. In the News. Media coverage throughout and after the project follows.
October 1, 2025 | WOSU Public Media "Federal funding cuts slow tree-planting goals in Columbus" The City of Columbus has set many tree-planting goals, but following recent federal funding cuts, the city has lost significant grant reimbursements for trees. August 26, 2024 | Columbus Underground “Forestry Progress Presented at ArborFest Tree Summit” Representatives from Green Columbus and Recreation & Parks presented for about an hour about the implementation of the UFMP, and asked for crowd suggestions on what next steps should be taken August 22, 2024 | Columbus Underground “Urban Forestry Master Plan Moves Forward Under New City Forester” Rosalie Hendon takes the role of Columbus City Forester, leading the effort to implement the Urban Forestry Master Plan. August 20, 2024 | Columbus Underground “Whetstone Park to Host City’s First ArborFest, Tree Summit” Columbus ArborFest, organized by Clintonville GreenSpot, Green Columbus and the Recreation & Parks Department, will help fulfill one of the action plans of the Urban Forestry Master Plan (UFMP) by hosting the city’s first annual Tree Summit. July 24, 2024 | City Chat “Ohio's First Comprehensive Tree Canopy Study” Understanding our regional urban forest is an important step to prioritizing, expanding, and growing tree canopy over the coming decades. March 13, 2024 | Axios Columbus Report: Franklin County tree coverage improved, but still has room to grow Franklin County communities need to take action to protect and grow the area's tree coverage, a new environmental report urges. January 4, 2024 | The Columbus Dispatch New Columbus law requires tree replacement or fee for tree removal from city property A change in Columbus city code now requires trees to be replaced if they are removed from city-owned land or rights-of-way, such as tree lawns next to city streets. December 26, 2023 | NBC4i Penalties increasing for chopping down public trees after Columbus City Council vote Columbus City Council is taking steps to enact stronger protection for trees. December 18, 2023 | Columbus Underground City Passes Stronger Tree Protections Columbus City Council voted unanimously on December 11 to change the public tree code, bringing the city a step closer to the goals of the Urban Forestry Master Plan. September 20, 2023 | Axios Columbus Columbus sees momentum for local tree growing plan A citywide plan is underway to preserve public trees and plant new ones, while local leaders will eye code changes this fall to protect tree coverage. September 15, 2023 | Columbus Underground City Seeks Public Comment On Updated Tree Code Public comment period is now open on the proposed public tree code in Columbus. July 7, 2023 | Columbus Underground A New Urban Forest Grows on the Far South Side Last November, city workers began planting the first of what would be 2,400 trees in a little-known park on Lockbourne Road. The trees are small, but they are growing, and the city is hopeful that they can bring some of the well-documented benefits of urban forests to a part of town that does not have very many trees, relative to the rest of Columbus. March 2023 | Cities and the Environment Journal Tree Equity, Investment, and Health: Columbus’ First Urban Forestry Master Plan The master plan project was featured in the the Cities and the Environment (CATE) journal. This journal focuses on peer-reviewed scholarship on urban ecology research and urban ecology education. July 12, 2022 | NBC4i Columbus effort seeks to increase trees across city Columbus is preparing to enter an important phase of a master plan to increase the number of trees across the city. The goal is to almost double the tree canopy in the next 30 years and this is the second year of the plan. July 8, 2022 | Axios Columbus A tree plan grows in Columbus Though it may take years for Columbus' burgeoning urban forestry plan to come to fruition, the city believes that effort is well worth it. July 6, 2022 | Columbus Dispatch Planting trees in Columbus would help economy, study says June 2, 2022 | WOSU Radio: Columbus' Tree Canopy A look at the master plan that has been developed for the city and the role it can play in improving our overall quality of life. April 28, 2022 | Columbus Monthly Columbus' Tree Canopy is Meager and Inequitable. Can the City’s New Master Plan Make an Impact? City plans to make a more robust and equitable urban canopy. February 4, 2022 | WOSU Public Media City of Columbus drafting more protections for trees Columbus is moving forward with efforts to preserve trees on public land within the city. September 15, 2021 | Columbus Underground City Council Commits Money to Forestry Plan Columbus City Council approved a new ordinance from the Recreation and Parks Committee funding the priorities established in the Urban Forestry Master Plan. September 13, 2021 | The Columbus Dispatch Columbus plans to spend $1.45 million to begin boosting city's tree canopy Columbus City Council is set to vote on committing funds to begin implementing the Urban Forestry Master Plan. April 6, 2021 | This Week Community News City of Columbus: Urban-forestry master plan calls for increasing tree canopy 40% Tree canopy goal announced in new Urban Forestry Master Plan. March 19, 2021 | The Ohio Environmental Council Columbus Canopy - How Do Trees Support Equity, Climate, & Health? Watch a recorded Q&A session between Rosalie Hendon, the UFMP project manager, and Nathan Johnson, public lands director of the Ohio Environmental Council. March 7, 2021 | WBNS-10TV Residents can weigh in on Columbus' first-ever Urban Forestry Master Plan Columbus is lagging behind its peer cities when it comes to the canopy cover of trees. And city leaders want to change that. Read the full article. February 25, 2021 | Columbus Underground Columbus Reveals Urban Forestry Plan Columbus just released the draft of its first ever Urban Forestry Master Plan for public comment (open through the end of March). March 4, 2020 | Columbus Underground Urban Forestry Plan Needs Public Input Columbusites [were] encouraged to visit Wyandot Lodge between 6 and 8 p.m. to offer input on the city’s plan to reduce air pollution, stormwater damage and the urban heat island effect through the long-term tree canopy planning in Columbus. February 22, 2020 | ThisWeek Community News Columbus' urban forestry master plan taking root When it comes to the city’s tree canopy, Columbus Recreation and Parks Department officials said there is nowhere to go but up -- and out. |
We are proud to announce that the Columbus UFMP project won two awards in 2021!
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