I love Nashville’s trees; it’s one of my favorite things about the city. 53-56% of Nashville is forested — possibly the largest urban tree canopy among major U.S. cities — but that tree canopy is absent from much of the city. Nashville’s suburban and rural areas, particularly to the west, have the vast majority of our tree canopy. Moreover, many local neighborhoods have seen significant declines in their tree canopy, particularly Green Hills and Midtown; Antioch and Priest Lake; Donelson, Hermitage, and Old Hickory; and Madison.
I spoke with Nashville Tree Conservation Corps (NTCC) Executive Director Ginger Hausser to better understand why we need more trees throughout Nashville, and how we can help our trees.
Why Nashville’s Tree Canopies Are Important
- Environmental: Improves air quality, mitigates climate change, and reduces the urban heat island effect.
- Water management: Reduces runoff, prevents flooding, and improves water quality.
- Biodiversity: Supports wildlife habitats.
- Human health: Reduces stress, anxiety, and heat-related illnesses.
- Economic: Increases property values and saves energy.
- Community: Enhances beauty and fosters community cohesion.
Volunteers plant trees with the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps. (Courtesy of the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps)
What’s NTCC Doing to Help Nashville’s Trees?
NTCC has helped pass tree-related legislation, such as the public tree bill, which designated a Metro Tree Review Panel for any large-scale tree removal on Metro property, and they continue to work on influencing bills and legislation. They also created Shelby Arboretum and are working towards making it an official arboretum, and they helped Fisk University acquire a $250,000 grant for tree evaluation, planting, and maintenance.
How You Can Help Nashville’s Trees
- Plant trees! Root Nashville is currently giving away 1-3 trees to Davidson County residents.
- Monitor tree health. Early pest detection is vital for saving trees, and most tree disease outbreaks occur in cities first.
- Protect trees during construction.
- Email your representatives that you support tree-friendly policies.
- Follow NTCC and Root Nashville on social media for tree-related events to help spread the word, and sign up as a volunteer.
