Greenscape and WJCT News co-hosted a State of the Canopy Town Hall to discuss a new report showing Northeast Florida is losing trees, and what the public can do to help.
The Urban Tree Canopy Assessment is a statewide study commissioned by the Florida Forest Service that shows canopy change over a 10-year period throughout the state of Florida. Northeast Florida experienced a 3.86% decline in trees over that period. While reasons for the decline aren’t covered in the report, industry professionals ascribe the loss mainly to development and storm damage.
More than 120 people attended the event and submitted the most questions ever received at an event, WJCT editor Jessica Palombo said.
Industry groups hosting informational tables for the public were the Florida Forest Service of Duval County, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, JEA, Greenscape, and the City of Jacksonville Office of Resilience and Urban Forestry team. Panelists for the Town Hall included Dr. Jenny Hinton, Office of Resilience; Billy Burke, Tree Commission; and Lisa Grubba, Greenscape of Jacksonville, Inc.
A professional videographer taped the event, which will be posted soon.