By protecting our trees, we protect our health and our homes from pollution and extreme weather.
Asheville needs 50% tree canopy cover.
To get there, GreenWorks will plant 50,000 trees by 2040.
The question is: Where?
By planting and protecting our trees now, the clean air and water, cooling shade, and bountiful pollinator-fed gardens that sustain us will be a gift we give to our children and grandchildren.
Asheville is running out of space for the big canopy trees that are our most powerful guardians against climate-related risks, such as extreme heat or flooding.
You also know that space is at a premium in the pavement-rich places that need trees the most.
We have this precious opportunity right now to protect our neighborhood trees and replace the ones we’ve lost
—before climate challenges become too big to manage.
The Road So Far
For the last 50 years, this family of dedicated tree guardians has protected and restored our trees.
50,195
Native trees planted
1973-2020
62
Volunteer TreeKeepers
6
Community Food Tree Orchards Established
265
Treasured Trees Honored
Won
Tree Protection Ordinance and City Urban Forester
Your road to a climate-resilient future begins right now.
We don’t have a second to waste.
We need targeted, innovative tools right now…or we won’t have any trees left to save.
This summer, Asheville GreenWorks will partner with NOAA, the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS), and technology provider CAPA Strategies to complete an urban heat island mapping campaign in Asheville and parts of Buncombe County.
We will be part of an international cohort of 18 cities documenting their hottest streets to create the foundation for maps, tools, and strategies that will create greater climate resilience.
Target neighborhood tree adoption events (March/April)
Offer trees to three neighborhoods who’ve lost more than their fair share.
Prepare Youth to Become Tree Guardians (May)
Expand our two environmental internship programs.
Launch a new job-readiness program for aspiring arborists.
Conduct our Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign (July)
Coordinate volunteer teams to map which streets are the hottest.
Make the Maps, with the McCullough Institute at UNC Asheville (September)
Upgrade efforts to restore the tree canopy by creating sophisticated mapping tools
Host County-wide Tree Adoption Day (October)
Restoring the trees begins at home…with a native tree adoption event.
Report Back to the Community (November)
Host fall symposium to share about the journey, and get fired up for the next phase.
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