Know Your Canopy
What is an Urban TREE Canopy?
A tree canopy is a measurement which include the layer of leaves, branches and stems of trees that shelter the ground from the sun. This measurement is expressed as a percentage of ground area that is covered by tree crowns and relates to the branching spread of the trees in an urban forest. Some urban tree canopy covers natural areas or gardens and lawns, while other canopy spreads across impervious surfaces such as roads, buildings and parking lots.
Which side of this street would feel the coolest?
Using an infrared thermometer heat gun to measure the heat from the sidewalk on both sides. The follow are the results of this measurement from the pictured street in Little Havana taken on May 27, 2025 at 3:51 PM.
🌳Know Your Canopy🌳
Take a look at our #KNOWYOURCANOPY campaign that we provided on our social media platforms. We demonstrated each of the targeted cities and the canopy percentage. Each post has a fact that showcases either a benefit of increased canopy or drawbacks of low canopy.
🌳TREE CITY USA PROGRAM🌳
Is your city part of the TREE City USA Program? This program is provided by the Arbor Day Foundation to raise awareness of the beneficial value that trees and vegetation can contribute to urban environments. Check with your local municipality officials to find out if your city is a TREE City click here to see the application process and check if your city is eligible.
🌳TREE Canopy Reports🌳
The following reports are from Miami-Dade County’s Urban Forestry Plan and the Canopy Report from Arbor Day Foundation. In the local Miami-Dade County report you can see what the benefits are to increase canopy in the South Florida Urban Community and how they are trying to implement these efforts in future development. In the Arbor Day Foundation, you will find information about the health and wellness associated with increased urban canopy and how it can help preserve green spaces.